Harrogate Gilbert & Sullivan Society

Harrogate Gilbert & Sullivan Society We are a society dedicated to the promotion of the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, performing one of the

Iolanthe 2026 – And that's a wrap! 👑🧚What a week! The fairies have returned to Fairyland, the Lords have gone back to th...
13/06/2026

Iolanthe 2026 – And that's a wrap! 👑🧚

What a week! The fairies have returned to Fairyland, the Lords have gone back to the House of Peers, and everyone else is enjoying a well-earned lie down.

A huge thank you to our wonderful audiences, cast, backstage crew, accompanists, front-of-house team and theatre staff. Without you, we'd just have been a group of adults standing around in peculiar costumes singing very loudly.

Thank you for making Iolanthe 2026 such a tremendous success! 🎭✨

You can see us one more time in Buxton on Thursday 6th August 🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️🎼🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️

12/06/2026

🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️🎼🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️ Iolanthe 🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️🎼🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️

Tonight is our final performance of Iolanthe and what a week it’s been.

We've been overwhelmed by the lovely comments, congratulations, and support. people have really enjoyed it... which is always a relief after months of rehearsals!

What a talented society this is. Every single person has shone on stage, from the tiniest fairy to the loftiest peer. The singing has soared, the jokes have landed (mostly), and remarkably, nobody has fallen off the stage or come on from the wrong side of the wings.

There are still a few seats left for tonight, so come along and see the dazzling fairies work their magic and the peers prove that being in charge doesn't necessarily mean knowing what you're doing.

One last chance to enjoy the fun, the music, and the madness. We'd love to see you there! ⭐️🧚‍♀️🎭🎼🎭🧚🏽‍♀️⭐️

https://hgss.sumupstore.com/

11/06/2026

🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️ Iolanthe 2026 - The Frazer threatre 🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️

What an amazing week so far. We still have tickets left for this evenings performance and our final performance tomorrow night.

Don't miss your chance to experience this magical production - book now and join us for an enchanting evening! ✨🎭

https://hgss.sumupstore.com/

🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️🎭🎼🎭🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️

What a fantastic opening night for Iolanthe! We were thrilled by the warm reception, enthusiastic applause, and wonderfu...
10/06/2026

What a fantastic opening night for Iolanthe! We were thrilled by the warm reception, enthusiastic applause, and wonderful comments from our audience.

If you haven't seen it yet, there are still tickets available. Don't miss your chance to experience this magical production - book now and join us for an enchanting evening! ✨🎭

https://hgss.sumupstore.com/

🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️ Iolanthe – Opening Night Tonight! 🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️Tonight’s the night… the fairies are fluttering, the peers are poli...
09/06/2026

🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️ Iolanthe – Opening Night Tonight! 🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️

Tonight’s the night… the fairies are fluttering, the peers are polishing their titles, and the Frazer Theatre is about to be sprinkled with a hefty dose of magic (and possibly a little bit of glitter that will never, ever come out of the curtains).

There are still tickets available, and you won’t want to miss this wonderfully whimsical, toe-tapping, laugh-out-loud magical show. Expect wit, chaos, music, mischief… and more than a few questionable decisions from members of the House of Lords. A massive “break a leg” to our utterly fabulous, ridiculously talented cast and chorus. You’ve survived rehearsals, mastered the music, remembered (most of) the words, and kept smiling through it all, we couldn’t be prouder. Tonight, it’s your time to shine (preferably under the stage lights rather than accidentally in the wrong wing). So come along, bring your friends, your family, your neighbours, and possibly that person you met once at the bus stop, everyone is welcome!

Let us transport you into a world where fairies have strong opinions, peers burst into song, and magic well and truly comes alive at the Frazer Theatre.

See you there… and don’t be late…..the fairies are notoriously unforgiving about punctuality

https://hgss.sumupstore.com/ (Please like & share to spread the word!)

Iolanthe 2026 - the Frazer theatre 9th-12th June Tomorrow is our opening performance of Iolanthe!! Why delay? Get your t...
08/06/2026

Iolanthe 2026 - the Frazer theatre 9th-12th June

Tomorrow is our opening performance of Iolanthe!! Why delay? Get your tickets for this gem of an Opera today!! https://hgss.sumupstore.com/ (Please like & share to spread the word!)

🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️🎵🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️ Meet the cast 🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️🎵🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️

Our final Meet the Cast feature is our fabulous Musical Director and Producer, Oliver Longstaff .

Oliver has been our Musical Director and Producer for several years, bringing a wealth of musical expertise, creativity, and leadership to Harrogate. A talented performer as well as a director, he has taken on many leading Gilbert & Sullivan roles as well as other musical theatre roles throughout his career and has delighted audiences for years with his outstanding performances.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Oliver at the helm, helping to bring our productions to life with his passion, dedication, and musical excellence

🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️🎼🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️

Iolanthe 2026 - the Frazer theatre 9th-12th June Less than a week to go now until our opening performance of Iolanthe!! ...
07/06/2026

Iolanthe 2026 - the Frazer theatre 9th-12th June

Less than a week to go now until our opening performance of Iolanthe!! Why delay? Get your tickets for this gem of an Opera today!! https://hgss.sumupstore.com/ (Please like & share to spread the word!)

🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️🎵🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️ Meet the cast 🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️🎵🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️

Our third micheavous Fairy and the last of our meet the cast......

Fleta played by Helen Hovell. Helen first joined the society in 2016 as a member of the chorus in The Pirates of Penzance. Since then, she has been a valued part of the company, and we are delighted to see her take on the role of Fleta in Iolanthe. As the mischievous and spirited fairy of the Fairy Queen’s court, Helen brings charm, energy, and a touch of magic to the stage. We are thrilled to have Helen in this enchanting role and look forward to her bringing Fleta’s playful character to life.

Fleta is one of the fairies who serve in the Fairy Queen’s court in Iolanthe. Graceful, spirited, and full of fairy mischief, she helps bring the enchanted world of the fairies to life, adding colour, energy, and charm to every scene in which she appears. Alongside her fellow fairies, Fleta observes and influences the events of the story as the magical realm becomes entangled with the affairs of mortals and members of the British aristocracy. she plays an important role in creating the operetta’s whimsical atmosphere, contributing to its sparkling humour, beautiful ensemble moments, and sense of wonder.

Iolanthe 2026 - the Frazer theatre 9th-12th June Less than a week to go now until our opening performance of Iolanthe!! ...
07/06/2026

Iolanthe 2026 - the Frazer theatre 9th-12th June

Less than a week to go now until our opening performance of Iolanthe!! Why delay? Get your tickets for this gem of an Opera today!! https://hgss.sumupstore.com/ (Please like & share to spread the word!)

🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️🎵🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️ Meet the cast 🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️🎵🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️

Our second cheeky Fairy is Leila played by Lisa Madden. Lisa is a regular performer with Harrogate G&S and is well known for her excellent comic timing and engaging stage presence. A firm audience favourite, she has a natural flair for comedy, bringing humour, charm, and energy to every role she plays. Lisa's ability to deliver laughs while creating memorable characters makes her a standout performer, and she is sure to bring plenty of sparkle to the role of Leila.

Leila brings warmth, charm, and youthful energy to the idyllic countryside setting of Iolanthe. Cheerful and kind-hearted, she embodies the innocence and simplicity of rural life, providing a gentle contrast to the political satire and comic absurdity that unfold elsewhere in the operetta. Though not a central figure in the plot, Leila's presence enriches the ensemble scenes and helps create the light-hearted, pastoral atmosphere that lies at the heart of Gilbert and Sullivan's enchanting work.

Iolanthe 2026 - the Frazer theatre 9th-12th June Less than a week to go now until our opening performance of Iolanthe!! ...
07/06/2026

Iolanthe 2026 - the Frazer theatre 9th-12th June

Less than a week to go now until our opening performance of Iolanthe!! Why delay? Get your tickets for this gem of an Opera today!! https://hgss.sumupstore.com/ (Please like & share to spread the word!)

🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️🎵🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️ Meet the cast 🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️🎵🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️

Today we have a triple treat....Meet the Fairies

Celia played Gill Dobson. Celia is brought to life by Gill. An accomplished performer, Gill has appeared in numerous principal roles with Harrogate Gilbert & Sullivan Society and other societies across Yorkshire, often performing alongside her husband, Ian Dobson, who appears in this production as Private Willis. Gill brings wonderful warmth, humour, and affection to the role of Celia, perfectly capturing the charm and spirit of one of Iolanthe’s most delightful fairy characters.

Celia is one of the Fairy Queen’s attendants in Iolanthe, bringing warmth, charm, and wit to the fairy court. Alongside her fellow fairies, she helps create the enchanting world that contrasts with the rigid traditions of human society. Curious about love and sympathetic to those who follow their hearts, Celia plays an important part in the fairies’ support of Iolanthe and her son Strephon. Though not a central figure in the plot, her lively presence, sparkling humour, and contributions to the operetta’s celebrated ensemble numbers make her a memorable member of the fairy kingdom and an integral part of Gilbert and Sullivan’s magical satire.

Iolanthe 2026 - the Frazer theatre 9th-12th June Less than a week to go now until our opening performance of Iolanthe!! ...
06/06/2026

Iolanthe 2026 - the Frazer theatre 9th-12th June

Less than a week to go now until our opening performance of Iolanthe!! Why delay? Get your tickets for this gem of an Opera today!! https://hgss.sumupstore.com/ (Please like & share to spread the word!)

🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️🎵🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️ Meet the cast 🧚‍♂️🧚🏽‍♀️🎵🧚🏽‍♀️🧚‍♂️

Private Willis played by Ian Dobson. Ian has performed a number of principal roles with Harrogate and other musical and theatre societies, earning a reputation as a talented and engaging performer. A keen Gilbert and Sullivan enthusiast, he particularly enjoys bringing the wit and humour of the Savoy operas to life on stage. Known for his strong comic timing and natural stage presence, Ian consistently entertains audiences with his lively and memorable character portrayals. His enthusiasm for performance shines through in every role, making him a valued member of any production. Audiences are sure to enjoy Ian’s portrayal of this character, which he brings to life with his trademark humour, charm, and sense of fun

Private Willis is a comic supporting character in Iolanthe. He is a Grenadier Guards sentry at Westminster who provides a practical, down-to-earth contrast to the fairies and aristocrats. He is best known for the song "When all night long a chap remains" and for his dry, common-sense humor.

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