The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive is devoted to the operas and other works of W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. We also have some pages relating to other light operas of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Archive, which was established in September 1993, includes a variety of G&S related items, including clip art, librettos, plot summaries, pictures of the original G&S stars, song scores, midi and mpeg audio files, and newsletter articles. New items are being added regularly.
This is the "home" site for all Gilbert and Sullivan related activities on the Internet. Links from the Archive lead to many other G&S sites, and to other opera and arts related Internet sites.
Our vision is that amateur theatre is successful and sustainable, providing a range of opportunities for people to develop their skills and enjoy taking part, at all levels.
We are here to support the education and information needs of individuals and organisations with high quality services and products that contribute to the success of amateur theatre, as well as encouraging appreciation of the sector by participants and audiences alike.
The Society was founded in 1971 by Peter Jenkyns, lecturer at the Putteridge Bury Teacher Training College in Luton, and June Pickard who was studying to become a teacher there. Peter was an accomplished singer, composer and MD - even sought after by the d'Oyly Carte - and June was an experienced performer and producer who had trained at the Royal College of Music. Very soon the Society's growing reputation for high musical standards and witty productions meant it expanded beyond a College Society, drawing its membership from across three counties.
Founded in 1866, Luton Choral Society is a choir of mixed voices, performing classical choral music concerts in Luton and the surrounding area, providing the opportunity for people to sing in a classical choir and for audiences to hear live classical music in their own locality.
Formed in 1867, Bedford Choral Society is one of the oldest established choral societies in the United Kingdom. A thriving local choir, Bedford Choral Society performs three or four times each year – usually in Bedford’s historic Corn Exchange. We have nearly 150 full-time members – with singers from other local choirs joining us on occasions for particular concerts.
The Bedford Marianettes has been established for over 50 years and evolved from a church group in St Mary's, Bedford, and is still commonly mis-spelt as Marionettes.
Traditionally the Marianettes produce two musicals a year as well as a pantomime, many concerts and old time music halls.
The Society exists to support musical education and to provide high quality classical music performed by musicians from the locality. There are two orchestras: the Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra concentrates on the larger symphonic works of the 19th and 20th centuries while the Bedford Sinfonia is a smaller orchestra specialising in chamber works.
The Society is for singers who enjoy performing some of the best and most popular choral works. The choir rehearses on Monday evenings between September and May and stages a Christmas Concert and a Spring Concert each year. The choir currently has around thirty members and we always welcome new singers. No audition is necessary.
The Wandering Minstrels is a highly accomplished group of five singers and a pianist who specialize in staging songs and scenes from the immortal Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Their concerts of Savoy classics, presented in period costume and performed in traditional style, are events to remember.
Online information for amateur dramatic groups including forthcoming shows, groups nationwide and advice, articles and reviews.
Discover the unique village of Stewartby, the dream of the Stewart family and once home to the largest brickworks in the world.
Britain's "What's On" events guide: a comprehensive guide to what's on throughout the country - ranging from the smallest village show or sale to events of national prominence. All are listed closest first to potentially cut down on wasted travel.
The current church was built by the Stewart family in the early 1950's as a place of worship for all Christians, regardless of denomination.
Whatever background you come from, and whether you have been a Christian for years or are just looking into Christianity you are assured of a very warm welcome.
If you have any messages for or memories of the Society or photos of past productions please send them to website@saods.org.uk. If you send a message or a photo it will be assumed that you agree to its publication on this web site and to the message or photo being credited with your name, unless you state otherwise. There is no guarantee that all messages or photos will be published on this web site.
From: Adrian Denton
Sonia Blake (nee Denton) was born and lived in Stewartby. She was one of the first members in the early 1950s of the “Stewartby G&S” as she called it.
Sadly, over time, mum’s dementia meant that she often didn’t know who we were but she still loved music. For a few years I brought her home for an annual G&S “fix” at Stewartby. She was the silver-haired lady at the front, clapping enthusiastically and singing EVERY word of every song. She loved “the big chap with the beard and a beautiful voice” and “the lovely conductor girl”.
People enjoy these presentations every year but do the cast truly appreciate the joy they all bring? This isn’t a Broadway production but to a ninety-something year old lady with dementia and distant links to the Society it truly was a “fix” for which I’m eternally grateful. Thank you for working miracles and bringing her back to us for a couple of hours each year.
photograph: Sonia Denton (far left) as Casilda in 1954’s production of The Gondoliers by Stewartby School Operatic and Dramatic Society
So glad to hear that the society is still going strong. I and my sister Judith were in the chorus in the early 1960s, and Mum and Dad were involved in the Pirates of Penzance and the Gondoliers in the 1950s (Doc Whiting and Mrs E A Whiting). Between those dates I thought your society put on the Sorcerer with Trial by Jury, but I can't see it on your list, so I must have got it wrong!
I have many more memories - my mother as stage manager flat on her front in the wings struggling to pull a wheeled gondola bearing the gondolier etc across the stage by a rope (it got stuck and she had to wriggle on to the stage to free it), and my mousachio'd father in the 'Pirates' dressed in a three cornered hat and a skirt with rows of rick rack binding round the hem, slapping his thigh and brandishing his cutlass, making us four sisters guffaw with a mixture of embarrassment and admiration; - the fast talking ?Vic? singing "my name is John Wellington Wells, I'm a dealer in magic and spells.....' . - Also a lovely mature lady whose name I've forgotten who sang so beautifully 'sing hey lack a day let the tears fall free.. etc'; - The day the costumes arrived from the theatrical hire company in London and none of the skirts being long enough and all the bodices being far too large. I could go on and on - sorry!
I am the chorus girl on the extreme right of the picture on both photos [of Ruddigore, 1961].
If you would like more information on any aspect of the society
• to perform
• to help out
• to see a show
please contact Gordon
phone: 07510 820632
email: information@saods.org.uk
We rehearse and perform in Stewartby. Early rehearsals are held at the church hall, later rehearsals and the performances are at Stewartby Village Hall.
Stewartby United Church Hall
Park Crescent. MK43 9NJ
Stewartby Village Hall
Stewartby Way. MK43 9LX
for comments or questions about this web site please contact
for information about tickets please contact: boxoffice@saods.org.uk
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