The Mikado - Press Release

Opera South East presents...

The Mikado – by Gilbert & Sullivan

Sung in English with Chorus and Orchestra

Opera South East will be performing Gilbert & Sullivan's 'The Mikado' with the Sussex Concert Orchestra at Hastings White Rock Theatre on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th April, 2020

PRESS RELEASE: OSE's The Mikado

Suggested Long Listing (531 words)

OPERA SOUTH EAST – The Mikado by Gilbert & Sullivan
White Rock Theatre, Hastings
Friday 24th and Saturday 25th April 2020
Sung in English with Chorus and Orchestra

Award winning Opera South East are back at the White Rock Theatre this April with a production of Gilbert & Sullivan's, The Mikado.

One of the most popular and humorous operas ever written, The Mikado is always a treat. It satirises Victorian British society, customs and pretensions through a farcical Gilbertian plot brimming with wit and sharp observation, all under the disguise of the Japanese Imperial Court of long ago. In this topsy-turvy world, flirting is punishable by death, and KoKo, the hapless Lord High Executioner, has much on his mind, including trying to avoid his own decapitation!

A tale of love and deception, with many memorable songs and plenty of opportunity to poke fun at 21st century Britain and its leading establishment and political figures. Who can we be thinking of? Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose! This will be a traditional production, with fabulous flowing costumes and brilliant make-up. A feast for the senses... what a great way to spend a Spring evening!

A warm welcome is extended to Denis Delahunt, who will be directing Opera South East for the first time. Denis lives in Bexhill and has been involved in local theatre and opera projects for decades, with professional acting and singing that include appearances at the ENO, the Edinburgh Festival and the Dublin Theatre Festival. He has worked with some outstanding directors over the years, including Phyllida Lloyd, Amy Draper and Erica Whyman. He brings some of this useful experience to bear on his own directing work. He has also spent time running and directing Easy Pieces Theatre Company which goes into schools all over the South East.

A welcome return to Hastings audiences is David Woloszko, who astonished as the gentle and sympathetic Prince Gremin, in OSE's NODA award-winning production of Eugene Onegin, for Best Opera in 2018. This time he takes on the role of the Mikado, while Louisa Alice-Rose, a young newcomer to Hastings audiences, takes on the role of Yum-Yum, betrothed to Nanki-Poo - Gary Marriott - with Ruth Parsons as Pitti-Sing and Marian Pierce as Peep-Bo. Oscar Smith tackles the role of the 'scheming' Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner, with Will O'Brien, Pooh-Bah, the Lord High Everything Else! Pish Tush is played by Alexander Roberts. The irrepessible Karen McInally plays the role of Katisha.

With a strong chorus on stage, Kenneth Roberts, conductor, is joined in the pit by the Sussex Concert Orchestra, for this wonderful feast of music and drama. You'll be sitting on the edge of your seats throughout wondering why the characters being portrayed are so familar!

Tickets from the White Rock Theatre at £21, £17 and £13. Accompanied children under 16 are free.

The Pre-show talk by the Director on the Saturday evening has proved a popular event in recent years and will give you an insight into how and why this particular production is presented in the way it is! This will be at 6:45pm, and is available to ticket holders of both evenings.

Suggested Short Listing - Short (385 words)

OPERA SOUTH EAST – The Mikado by Gilbert & Sullivan
White Rock Theatre, Hastings
Friday 24th and Saturday 25th April 2020
Sung in English with Chorus and Orchestra

Award winning Opera South East are back at the White Rock Theatre this April with a production of Gilbert & Sullivan's - The Mikado.

One of the most popular and humorous operas ever written, The Mikado is always a treat. It satirises Victorian British society, customs and pretensions through a farcical Gilbertian plot brimming with wit and sharp observation, all under the disguise of the Japanese Imperial Court of long ago. In this topsy-turvy world, flirting is punishable by death, and KoKo, the hapless Lord High Executioner, has much on his mind, including trying to avoid his own decapitation!

A tale of love and deception, with many memorable songs and plenty of opportunity to poke fun at 21st century Britain and its leading establishment and political figures. This will be a traditional production, with fabulous flowing costumes and brilliant make-up.

A warm welcome to Denis Delahunt, who will be directing Opera South East for the first time. Denis lives in Bexhill and has been involved in local theatre and opera projects for decades, with professional acting and singing that include appearances at the ENO, the Edinburgh Festival and the Dublin Theatre Festival. He has worked with several notable theatre directors, and has run and directed the Easy Pieces Theatre Company in schools all over the South East.

A welcome return to Hastings audiences is David Woloszko, who astonished as the gentle and sympathetic, Prince Gremin, in OSE's NODA award-winning production of Eugene Onegin ('Best Opera' award of 2018). This time he takes on the role of the Mikado, while Louisa Alice-Rose, a young newcomer to Hastings audiences, takes on the role of Yum-Yum, betrothed to Nanki-Poo - Gary Marriott.

With a strong chorus on stage, Kenneth Roberts conducts the Sussex Concert Orchestra for this wonderful feast of music and drama. You'll be sitting on the edge of your seats throughout wondering why the characters being portrayed are so familar!

Tickets from the White Rock Theatre at £21, £17 and £13. Accompanied children under 16 are free.

The Pre-show talk will be given by the Director on the Saturday will give an insight into the production

Downloadable Press Pack

Contains:

A Word version of the long press release text (left)
Photo of David Woloszko (The Mikado)
Photo of Louisa Alice-Rose (Yum-Yum)
Photo of Denis Delahunt (Director)
Poster image

ose_the_mikado_press_pack.zip
File Size:	10038 kb
File Type:	zip

Download File

Notes to the Editor

Opera South East - who we are and what we do

We have been performing operas for 37 years (since 1983) by bringing together enthusiastic amateurs and emerging/established professionals to provide a unique opportunity for singers of all ages and backgrounds to experience the thrill of opera performance with a full orchestra.

We have been a registered charity for 32 years (1988 - link) to present fully staged operas in and around Hastings that are affordable and accessible to everyone, performing high quality productions in English to encourage new audiences. OSE enables emerging singers to gain valuable performance experience under professional musical and artistic direction. We present galas and concerts, lectures and workshops in order to strengthen our involvement with the wider community.

Encouraging young performers & opera audiences

We delight in introducing opera to new audiences, especially children - under-16s go free to all our productions when accompanied by an adult. We always try and outreach to the wider community where possible and recent productions have school children from Theatre Sense and Claremont School performing with us where possible. We hope that their involvement with the company will help them gain experience in theatre performance and a deeper understanding of opera and it's place in society

NODA Awards for OSE

The National Operatic & Dramatic Association have presented a number of awards to OSE in recent years

an Accolade of Musical Excellence in OSE's production of Carmen in 2014. The NODA Regional Representative said at the 2015 award (by when we had produced Il Trovatore) "Opera South East are an amazing Company. Just when you think they can't do any better, they crown it with another outstanding performance. They fully deserve this award!"
Then in 2019 it was announced we had won the NODA 2018 Best Opera award - we are thrilled!

OSE's Previous productions of The Mikado

We have experience of G&S, and The Mikado in particular. OSE have produced The Mikado twice before:

in 2004 under the direction of Fraser Grant (who has produced 19 productions with us, two of which were double bills)
in 1987 under the direction of Colin Morris

Opera South East now welcomes Denis Delahunt to direct this April's production of G&S's The Mikado

For a full history of OSE's past performances see here...

Pre-Show Talk on the Saturday night

Members of the audience are warmly invited to attend a Pre-performance Talk given by Director, Denis Delahunt, on Saturday 25th April, in the auditorium at the White Rock Theatre, at 6:45pm.

A valid ticket for either night will ensure admission, for which there is no charge. This talk takes the form of a short presentation, then a Question and Answer session.

Audience reaction from previous productions

Audience reaction of Opera South East's production of Verdi's Macbeth

...a superb operatic experience, beautifully sung, costumed and staged...
...a missed opportunity for many who might have shared in this fantastic experience...
other audience comments are here...

Press photos

Technical Rehearsal
Photos will be available on Thursday 23rd April 2020 (or possibly Wednesday 22nd April)
High-resolution version available from [email protected] to let us know if you want photos at the time
Please offer credit for photos courtesy of Mark Duncan