The Eastbourne Gilbert and Sullivan Society have made a loss on their last production ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ at the Devonshire Park Theatre in May of this year. Playing in the same week at the Congress Theatre was ‘Fiddler on the Roof’.
Needless to say the Society suffered and was unable to maintain the usual seat sales, even though ‘The Pirates of Penzance is one of the favourites as a well known opera and the current Committee members are thinking along the lines of moving from the Theatre to another venue after the 2015 production of ‘Iolanthe’.
Several venues have been placed in the hat, but as yet nothing has been set in cement.
The Society was inaugurated on 13th February 1968 when 51 persons attended this first meeting with 12 apologies. From this gathering the Eastbourne & District Gilbert and Sullivan Society was born. A committee was formed, the usual election of officers and four committee members. The enrolment fee for members was five shillings.
In 1977 it was reported by Gregory Gower the Hon. Secretary at that time 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 was 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 was then offered The Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne. Their first production there was ‘Ruddigore’ and they have been proud to perform there every year since. In the past the Society has tried to keep productions in the true traditional manner which has pleased many of the followers but, to keep Gilbert and Sullivan alive, it has been necessary to occasionally give productions that little bit extra! The first “adventure” was in 1994 with a production of ‘Broadway Pirates.’ 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 baritone, Alistair Donkin to play the role of Jack Point in ‘The Yeomen of the Guard’ to celebrate the Society’s 35th Birthday and in 2006 Alistair Donkin was invited back to direct ‘The Gondoliers.’ Over the past 15 years the Society has been involved in raising awareness and much needed monies for many charities. It wasn’t until 1999 the society gave from the sale of their programmes to the charity chosen by the committee and since then have been doing so each year. The total sum of £13,100 has been donated.
The Bandstand Concerts have been instrumental in providing entertainment on the sea front and at the same time raising much needed money for Hazel Court School for Children with learning disabilities and has raised in total £12,500.
The Society has grown in stature since its inauguration date and many persons, too many to mention have ensured that in Eastbourne, at least they have kept the names of Gilbert and Sullivan alive.
It remains to be seen if the society can after 47 years when in 2015 they perform ‘Iolanthe’ at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne stay as a worthy contender to perform on a professional stage.
Their association with Eastbourne Operatic & Dramatic Society (EODS) stems from the breakaway group of people in 1968 who wished to start an independent society namely: The Eastbourne and District Gilbert and Sullivan Society. It was on the understanding that EODS would do plays and musicals other than Gilbert & Sullivan Operas.
This has been the foundation of their success of producing traditional and not so traditional G & S productions. In productions like the “The Hot Mikado” their sizzling performances of this jazzed up version was perfect. I had the privilege of being there to witness this outstanding achievement.
The write-up from the local paper was abysmal to say the least and the description of the story-line was the made-up imaginations of someone who evidently had not attended even though complimentary theatre tickets had been provided. The reporter used only his initials when writing his review of “The Hot Mikado” – DT. I believed it stood for “Dirty Tricks.” The society received an apology from the Editor, but the damage had already been done. It is a known fact that the Society has had to fight for a mention in the Eastbourne local newspapers.
I was privileged to be the Society’s Publicity Officer for many years and I knew just how difficult the problem was of getting the Eastbourne Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s productions mentioned. I always thought that newspapers were supposed to support local organisations and be proud of the fact.
The society’s decision to change their production from “The Yeomen of the Guard” for 2015 was made purely because it would be fun to perform “Iolanthe” which is a story of Fairies and Members of Parliament and this would coincide with the political arena being played for real in Eastbourne and the surrounding districts, particularly as the production will take place in election year.
As far as the society’s performing future at the Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne is concerned, financial and other factors concerning the society have to be weighed up.
Could this be the writing on the wall for the society?
