LondonTheatre1

London Theatre: Tickets Reviews | News | West End | Off-West End | UK Touring Productions

View All Shows Booking Now
  • Home
  • Top Selling Shows
    • Musicals
    • Plays
      • A Christmas Carol
      • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
      • The Mousetrap
      • The Woman in Black
      • Witness for the Prosecution
    • & Juliet
    • Back To The Future
    • Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
    • Come From Away
    • Dirty Dancing
    • Frozen The Musical
    • Heathers
    • Jersey Boys
    • Les Misérables
    • Mamma Mia
    • Matilda the Musical
    • My Fair Lady
    • Moulin Rouge
    • Only Fools and Horses
    • Pretty Woman the Musical
    • The Book of Mormon
    • The Drifters Girl
    • The Lion King
    • The Phantom of the Opera
    • Tina the Musical
    • Wicked
    • London Theatres
      • Seating Plans
      • Adelphi Theatre
      • Ambassadors Theatre
      • Apollo Theatre
      • Duke of York’s Theatre
      • Fortune Theatre
      • Gillian Lynne Theatre
      • Harold Pinter Theatre
      • Lyceum Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
      • Piccadilly Theatre
      • Richmond Theatre
      • Savoy Theatre
      • Trafalgar Theatre
  • News
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • UK Shows
    • Alexandra Theatre
    • Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
    • Brighton Theatre Royal
    • Bristol Hippodrome
      • Bristol Theatre Seating Plan
    • Edinburgh Playhouse
    • Glasgow Theatre Royal
    • Grand Opera House York
    • King’s Theatre Glasgow
    • Kit Kat Club London
    • Leas Cliff Hall
    • Liverpool Empire
    • Manchester Opera House
    • Manchester Palace Theatre
    • Milton Keynes Theatre
    • New Theatre Oxford
    • New Victoria Theatre Woking
    • New Wimbledon Theatre
    • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
    • Princess Theatre Torquay
    • Regent Theatre Stoke
    • Rhoda McGaw Theatre
    • Richmond Theatre
    • Stockton Globe
    • Sunderland Empire
    • Swansea Arena
    • Victoria Hall Hanley Stoke
  • Dancewear
  • Newsletter
Home » Reviews » A Gala Celebration of Gilbert and Sullivan

A Gala Celebration of Gilbert and Sullivan

November 14, 2022 Last updated: November 14, 2022 1:38 pm By John OBrien

In the week when the ENO lost all its Arts Council Funding (and who knows if we’ll ever see another Gilbert & Sullivan production at the Coliseum?) I for one am grateful to Tarantara Productions for their 2022/23 UK Tour celebrating the work of Gilbert & Sullivan. It may well be that this will be one of the few companies that carry the torch for the Gilbert & Sullivan repertoire. They were the Victorian equivalents of Rodgers & Hammerstein or Lennon & McCartney. Artists that appealed to those across the social scale from the pub and music hall to the concert halls and grand opera houses. For my money, that makes them unique in English culture and is one of many reasons why they should be cherished. So three cheers for Tarantara and their current tour. They are one of those exemplary companies run by people who clearly love what they do and do their utmost to give audiences a good time. The brainchild of Martin Handley and Barry Clark Tarantara was formed in 2014. Their mission is to present Gilbert & Sullivan to the highest standards both to existing G&S fans and crucially also to reach out to new audiences. As ever the catch-22 is how to get new people to buy a ticket. They have come up with the format of the greatest hits in one show. This offers audiences the chance to try before you buy, as it were. Having sampled a range of the best that G&S has to offer audiences will I have no doubt go on to try a full opera. As it happens The Yeoman of the Guard is on at The Coliseum for the rest of November. Catch it while you still can.

A Gala Celebration of Gilbert and Sullivan
A Gala Celebration of Gilbert and Sullivan.

There is no pit at Richmond theatre so the full orchestra is on stage. This gives the show real intimacy as we connect with the orchestra and the charismatic conductor Martin Handley. A founder member of Tarantara, Martin is a full-on high-energy conductor. Like a football coach, he metaphorically kicks every ball. His leadership of the orchestra is robust, dynamic and effervescent. His on-stage presence adds greatly to the show’s effectiveness. The conversation between the singers and the orchestra feels much more tangible and visceral. Indeed at times, the conductor becomes a focus for the singers’ amorous attention. Joint co-founder Barry Clark is the staging director, narrator and performer in the show. Barry is a delight to watch. Providing pithy narrative links between numbers he keeps the show on the move. Himself a master of the “patter” songs he gives a rendition of unrivalled verbal dexterity. He also does a jaunty Fred Astaire impression as he glides across the stage.

The format for the show is to alternate between a comic number and a love song or lament. This keeps the show well-balanced between the emotions and provides a strong forward momentum. Sian Dicker and Judith Le Breuilly both sing wonderful love songs that tug at our heartstrings. While Yvonne Howard and Rebecca Bottone give outstanding renditions of comic classics. Timothy Nelson and Alexander Robin Baker provide heft whilst Matthew Siveter is eye-catching as a comic foil. The orchestral playing is excellent throughout. The timing is faultless and really brings home the dialogue between Gilbert’s lyrics and Sullivan’s phrasing. The two hours fly by, always a mark of a good show I think. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and can assure you that you are in good hands with the Tarantara team. They are real pros who know and love what they do. So if you’re a G&S fan go along and support them. If you’re new to G&S this really is the perfect introduction. In two hours you will get a delightful overview of G&S and will come out in a position to decide whether this is for you. Please give G&S a go.

4 stars

Review by John O’Brien

A 26-piece orchestra and acclaimed soloists perform favourites from The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore and others, including some less familiar gems. A glorious celebration of all that’s best in G&S’s extraordinary operas!

Performed by singers from English National Opera, Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera, Opera North, Carl Rosa and D’Oyly Carte featuring Alexander Robin Baker, Rebecca Bottone, Barry Clark, Siân Dicker, Yvonne Howard, Judith Le Breuilly, Timothy Nelson and Matthew Siveter, conducted by Martin Handley (ENO, Royal Danish Opera, Australian Opera and regular presenter for BBC Radio 3).

Richmond Theatre, The Green, Richmond, TW9 1QJ

Book Tickets for Richmond Theatre

Avatar for John OBrien

About John OBrien

JOHN O’BRIEN born in London in 1960 is a born and bred Londoner. His mother was an illiterate Irish traveller. His early years were spent in Ladbroke Grove. He was born at number 40 Lancaster Road. In 1967 the family was rehoused in Hackney. He attended Brooke House School for Boys in Clapton, - as did Lord Sugar. He became head boy and was the first person in his family to make it to university, gaining a place at Goldsmiths College in 1978. He took a degree in Sociology and a PGCE . From 1982 until 1993 he taught at schools in Hackney and Richmond. In 1984-85 he attended Bristol University where he gained a Diploma in Social Administration. From 1985 until 1989 he studied part-time in the evenings for a degree in English Literature at Birkbeck College. He stayed on at Birkbeck from 1990-1992 to study for an MA in Modern English Literature. He left teaching in 1993 and has worked as a tutor, researcher, writer and tour guide. He leads bespoke guided tours on London’s history, art , architecture and culture. He has attended numerous courses at Oxford University - Exeter College, Rewley House & Kellogg College. In London, he attends courses at Gresham College, The National Gallery, The British Museum, The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, The British Academy and The Royal Society. Read the latest London theatre reviews by all reviewers.

Search for Tickets

DOG HAIR at VAULT Festival

“The times they are a-changin'”, as Bob Dylan put it - and as a deceased woman’s grandson (Phillip Jones) returns home to attend the funeral, the … [Read More...]

Mythos: Ragnarök at Vault Festival

It’s not often that the entertainment tastes of an intellectually snobby middle-aged woman and an action-mad 10-year-old boy align perfectly, but … [Read More...]

Notre Dame (Online) Threedumb Theatre

Notre Dame is the latest digital production by Threedumb Theatre, live-streamed from The Space in Canary Wharf, London and directed by Stephen Smith, … [Read More...]

The Dissent – Themis Theatre – Vault Festival

Icarus has fallen, and Minos has her dead to rights in an open-shut court case, but perhaps another story might be found. An interesting premise, an … [Read More...]

One Who Wants To Cross (Un Qui Veut Traverser)

The latest production at the intimate Finborough Theatre boasts a visually striking set designed by Sarah Beaton on a traverse stage, with the … [Read More...]

London Theatre 1 and London Theatre One are Registered Trademarks Copyright 2023 www.LondonTheatre1.com
By using our website you’re confirming that you’re happy to accept our use of cookies.
Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising - About Us - Newsletter - Contact Us

As an Amazon Associate our website receives a commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.