Back with the Gilbert and Sullivan classic

Opera della Luna returns to the Hawth, Crawley, with Gilbert & Sullivan’s classic The Mikado on Tuesday, February 25 at 7.30pm.
The Mikado.The Mikado.
The Mikado.

A spokesman said: “The history books tell us that it was a huge Japanese sword suddenly dislodging itself from the wall of Gilbert’s study which gave him the idea for The Mikado.

The Mikado went on to become for almost seventy years the world’s most valuable theatrical property.

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“Set in the zany flashy world of modern fashion houses with costumes inspired by Versace and Gaultier, expect sequins, stunning gowns, glamour, glorious singing, and of course, the company’s inimitable brand of madcap humour.

“The cast includes Opera della Luna stalwarts and Gilbert and Sullivan specialists: Richard Gauntlett as Ko-Ko, Louise Crane as Katisha and Ian Belsey as The Mikado.

“Richard Gauntlett is a comedian and an actor whose interests in music hall, silent film and variety have inspired much of his career switching from circus, West End musicals, opera and variety.

“He a regular at The Leeds City Varieties, Brick Lane Music Hall and The Player’s Theatre in London both as an act and as Mr Chairman.”

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Louise Crane has worked as principal artist with Glyndebourne, ENO, the Monnaie (Brussels), Opéra de Lyon, Aldeburgh Festival, Chelsea Opera Group, Opera Factory and Mid-Wales Opera. For Opera della Luna, Louise has sung Katisha & Peep Bo (Mikado), Ruth, Edith & a Policeman (The Parson’s Pirates), Amanda (The Ghosts of Ruddigore), Alice (Lucia di Lammermoor), Orestes (Belle Helene), Buttercup (HMS Pinafore) and in The Burglar’s Opera.

Ian Belsey is celebrating over forty years in show business, and is now one of the world’s leading performers in light opera, particularly in the works of Gilbert & Sullivan : The Savoy Operas.

He made his debut aged eight at the Pier Theatre, Bournemouth in The Sooty Show, before appearing in Variety; later studying at the RAD, the GSMD, and at the RCM, both in the Opera School and as a Post Graduate.

Tickets on 01293 553636 or book online at www.hawth.co.uk.