It’s been a rough year-and-a-half for the arts, with so many productions being put on hold, cancelled, or disrupted by Covid. Eastbourne Gilbert & Sullivan has ploughed ahead as best as it could under difficult circumstances, putting on a few virtual productions including a pantomime, a beginner’s guide to Gilbert & Sullivan, a couple of radio plays and some topical spoofs – all of which can be found on our “YouTube channel.” The Society has been unable to get together in person until a few weeks ago. Rehearsals initially started outdoors for safety reasons. Eastbourne Gilbert and Sullivan are presenting ‘A Celebration with Gilbert & Sullivan’ and now it is more of a double celebration for members being back together enjoying the social side as well as singing as a group again.
Sadly, some members have not been able to re-join for different reasons, but the society have been busy recruiting and are really happy to have some bright new young talent amongst us. The society’s mission is ‘keeping Gilbert & Sullivan alive’ and one of the best ways of doing this is passing it on to the next generation.
Putting together a one-off show which is all about celebrating the great tradition of Gilbert & Sullivan, but we didn’t want it to be just the usual selection of songs with anecdotes in between, so one of our members, Margaret Amey, came up with the great idea of exploring what it’s like to love Gilbert & Sullivan through the eyes of a longstanding performer. She’s written an original script which follows a grandparent (played by Peter Tucknott) reminiscing about his days in all the different shows, and inspiring his grandson (Lester Seale), who is doing his first Gilbert & Sullivan production. It should be a really fun night and we hope that this outdoor production will encourage lots of people to come along, even in these uncertain times. Society members are getting excited to be getting back up in front of a live audience, and I think everyone will be giving it their all!
We’ve also weaved in a preview of some of our ballads from our production in November 2021 at Eastbourne Devonshire Park Theatre – presenting The Pirates of Penzance – an enduring favourite.
The History of Gilbert and Sullivan Society
The Eastbourne and District Gilbert and Sullivan Society inauguration took place on the 13th February 1968. 51 members of the public turned up to join. Another 12 members who were unable to attend sent in their apologies. A large following for a newly formed Society.
It was reported by the Hon. Secretary, that by the 11th March 1969, 64 applicants had auditioned and had been accepted for singing membership and 33 non singing members. During 1968 and 1969 the Society performed many Concerts at the Congress Theatre and the Winter Garden; Gilbert and Sullivan For All being the most successful of concerts. In 1970 the Society performed their first major production of The Pirates of Penzance which was to have been at the Pier Theatre, Eastbourne, but unfortunately it was a victim to an arson attack and was burnt down. The Society were offered the Royal Hippodrome and from that first performance many productions were to follow. The last production in 1987 at the Royal Hippodrome was Pinafore Plus.
The Society were offered The Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne and their first production was Ruddigore. In the past the Society has tried to keep productions in the true traditional manner which has pleased many of our followers, but to keep Gilbert and Sullivan alive, it has been necessary to give our productions that little bit extra.
Our first adventure was in 1994 with the production of the Broadway version of The Pirates of Penzance, following on from that in the year 2000 the Society presented The Hot Mikado. In 2003 the Society invited the renowned international ex D’Oyly Carte tenor, Alistair Donkin to play the role of Jack Point in The Yeomen of the Guard to celebrate the Society’s 35th Birthday. In 2006 Alistair Donkin was invited back to stage direct The Gondoliers.
The Society has been fortunate in procuring the services of the locally renowned Stage Director Richard Osborne who successfully directed The Pirates of Penzance in 2007 and Patience in 2008 to critical acclaim.
Over the past 40 years the Society has been involved in raising awareness and much needed monies for many many charities. Four members of the Society successfully walked 27 miles over the Beachy Head marathon route and raised in excess to raise funds for Sudden Adult Death SAD(UK). They were: Colin Day, Paul Eccles, Jackie King (co-opted to the Society for the walk) and Gregory Gower.
Each year the Society donates from the sale of programmes to the many charities as listed in this programme. This year the charity chosen was the Eastbourne and South Wealden Multiple Sclerosis Society and was another first for this charity when the Chairman, Bernard Curtis was asked to take part in the production as “The Solicitor”. Each year up to 2019 the Bandstand Concerts have been instrumental in providing entertainment on the sea front and at the same time raising money for Hazel Court School for Children with learning disabilities.
List of Charities Supported by Eastbourne G & S Society
In memory of Ian Gow Northern Ireland Fund
Hazel Court School for Children with Learning Disabilities
Beating Bowel Cancer formally known as The Crocus Trust
Royal National Lifeboat Institute
The Farm Aid Appeal to help through the Foot and Mouth Crisis
“CRY” Cardiac Risk in the Young
Respiratory Unit at Eastbourne District General Hospital
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
N.C.H. The Children’s Charity
Tsunami Appeal