Welcome to Grosvenor Light Opera Company! We are an amateur operatic society based in central London, focusing primarily on the works of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. GLOC has a long history – with over 70 performances of G&S since its debut in 1949!
Latest news
- Congratulations to our principal cast!
It’s not too late to join the chorus or crew, by coming along to our first rehearsal this week!
Join our first rehearsal
Wednesday 19th February 2025, 18:45 – 21:45
St. Gabriel’s Church Hall, Churchill Gardens, London SW1V 3AA
Simply turn up, or email us with any questions!
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- Join our next production!
Open Rehearsal and auditions!
Come along to our Open Rehearsal on
Wednesday 5th February 18:45 – 21:45
St. Gabriel’s Church Hall, London, SW1V 3AA
Auditions will be held on 12th or 15th February! (No audition for chorus members) Sign up here!
Find everything you need to know in our Welcome Pack
Musical Director: Christopher Jacklin & Artistic Director: Ritchie Scott
This production will relocate the action from Japan to a car factory in England in a whimsical re-imagining of the show in a humorous corporate world of bureaucracy and petty rivalries, which for modern audiences will more clearly reveal the biting satire of British society that Gilbert had always intended The Mikado to represent.
- Winter concert and 75th success!
Congratulations to all our cast and crew for executing a fabulous show and Diamond Jubilee party! The show was a magnificent and energetic collection of scenes, followed by a fabulous celebration of all things GLOC for our 75th party!
One of the highlights of the evening was having some of our longest standing members and supporters joining us at the event. The pinnacle of the evening was our guest speaker and longstanding member and supporter, Pam Everton’s wonderful speech! Read on below for a copy of Pam’s wonderful speech, as well as some interesting thoughts from another angel and longstanding member, Chris Crowcroft! Additionally, we would like to say a huge thank you to another special guest, Rebecca Wilmshurst, the daughter of our founder John Wilmshurst and longstanding member and supporter Jean Wilmshurst, for the very generous donation to digitalise our archives!
Brilliant speech given at our Diamond Jubilee by Pam Everton
Thank you so much for inviting me to this wonderful celebration.
My late husband Samuel Everton was in the audience for the Companies first Show. He was so inspired and impressed with the performance that he joined for the second Show and continued to perform in every Show until 2001 when he “retired “ at the age of 80!
He was passionate about the Savoy Operas and even more passionate about The Grosvenor Light Opera Company. I joined the company in 1964. My first show was Princess Ida in November 1964 – 60 years ago. I was very nervous – I had never been on the stage before – although I had been in the chorus of my school choir. But I needn’t have worried. I was the shortest soprano and Sam was the shortest tenor, we were partners and Sam diligently ensured that I was in the right place at the right time! We fell in love and became one of several Grosvenor Couples!
In 1964 the D’Oyly Company owned the copyright of the Savoy operas and we had to hire the sets, costumes, musical score etc. from them. There were strict guidelines as to stage production and dance routines which had to be adhered to. The copyright ran out in the 1960s and made way for less traditional productions!
In 1966 the company performed The Grand Duke. It was the first time it had been performed in London since its first disastrous run. G&S devotees came from all over the country to see it.
The week before the show a bug attacked the company and nearly everyone lost their voice at some point of the show week. We had to have people with scores singing from the orchestra pit while the cast acted and mimed on the stage!!!
I remember a production of Patience in 1994. The Theatre we had booked failed an electrical inspection on the Wednesday before the week of the show. By some miracle the Commonwealth Institute Theatre in Kensington had had a cancellation and we transferred there. Remember there was no internet and very limited use of mobile phones and no social media. It was a nightmare but a lovely very successful show in Black and white.
One of favourite memories is of performing the Mikado in a temporary Theatre that had been erected in the space vacated by the fruit and vegetable market in Spitalfields. It was built on scaffolding and had the largest stage I ever remember playing on. There was no orchestra pit and no back stage facilities so we had the Titipu Band on one side and the stage and the Titipu Tearooms on the other. When you were not performing we would sit discreetly in the tearoom. It was great to see all the action and feel part of it.
I remember my hairpiece falling off in the Gondoliers and Ian Lawson kicking it across the stage saying oh these rats in Venice!
We had some wonderful opportunities. We provided the chorus for groups such as Gilbert & Sullivan for all in both the Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. We also were in the chorus for several operas in the Open Air Theatre in Holland Park. And we even tried Television!! It was in a TV series called Kavannah QC and in one episode one of the lawyers joins a G&S Society to be the Judge in Trial by Jury. We spent 3 days on location, one in the Middle Temple, which was beautiful and two days in Stratford Magistrate’s Court!! All for 3 minutes on screen. But it was an amazing experience and we were paid £4000 which was life-saving for the Company at the time!
Sam did play a few minor principal roles. Antonio in the Gondoliers and Samuel in Pirates. But we were both true chorus members through and through. We enjoyed being in the chorus – we made so many friends and we had such fun. When I was watching your last show Yeoman of the Guard I could see that it is exactly that for you. It is seeing your enjoyment and passion that thrills me and reminds me of our experiences. I have been saying for two or three years how good the chorus is and I was so pleased this was recognised in Buxton this year.
So, I want to say thank you to you all for taking the Company forward so completely and successfully. I also want to thank you for Angel scheme that keeps people like me in touch with you. We appreciate it.
Sam would have been so delighted that we are together to celebrate tonight and I know he will be joining in the chorus of Hail Poetry. So from him and me well done and here’s to the next 25 years!!!Huge thank you to Pam Everton for a fabulous speech and hilarious stories connecting us with our past! It was the highlight of celebrations!
Interesting anecdote from Chris Crowcroft
I am in the North Lakes/Penrith, too far away to make the Diamond Jubilee, sadly. There is G&S up here but it is dying, along with its practitioners. GLOC has a special London situation, long may that apply! I had a Savoyard moment not so long ago, helping out with my old military school. There in the petitions for entry 1814 was one for Thomas Sulivan (sic), living in poverty with mother and two siblings, father away at the wars and unseen for 5 years. The school rescued him, gave him a clean uniform, three meals a day and the share of a clean bed as well as his own towel. It also educated him as a military musician. He was of course the father of Sir Arthur and had rather more to do with Arthur’s musical education than history otherwise tells. Arthur was first off a bandroom brat. ‘But tush, I am puling.’
The school is the Duke of York’s Royal Military School, Dover, founded 1803 as the Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea, priority orphan children of ordinary soldiers. Where I first trod the boards in G&S 1968-70. My father, like Arthur’s, was an army bandmaster: ‘there’s a good hymn tune in every G&S’ he used to say, and a schoolfriend’s likewise bandmaster dad lodged his family in the Sullivan quarters at Sandhurst, where Arthur was first exposed to the bandroom and all its wind instruments (he said he could play something on all of them by age 8). I like to imagine Arthur, when conducting Pirates being amused by the orphan theme and orphan/often dialogue. Thomas Jnr, his Irish mum and two sibs were lodging in an alleyway in Holborn, prime Dickens/Fagin territory, she earning coppers a week ‘taking in washing when she is well enough.’ His Irish dad Thomas Snr went for a soldier soon after his marriage and fought in the Peninsular and USA and was en route to Waterloo (too late). Afterwards guarded Napoleon on St Helena. Never rose above private, went AWOL twice, ended up a Chelsea Pensioner ‘worn out.’ Veritably rags to riches in two generations Thomas-Thomas-Arthur. And Catholic to Anglican (I know why). Not that you need all the detail! But one passes things on…… Ever, Chris
A note from Chris Roberts!
I was a member from 1972 to 2002 and directed shows from 1997 to 2001. This included the 50th anniversary celebrations when we staged items from every G and S show (including Thespis) in one evening! I also remember 50 years ago when we did no show at all due to problems with the theatres and we ended up rehearsing Iolanthe for eighteen months… It’s still my favourite show, however!
Et corde et voce! All good wishes, Chris (Roberts)
A thank you to Rebecca Wilmshurst!
We would also like to say a huge thank you to our wonderful support Rebecca Wilmshurst, the daughter of our founder John Wilmshurst and long-time member and supporter Jean Wilmshurst. Even Rebecca’s aunties were in the company in 1949! The Wilmshurst support over the years has been hugely meaningful, it’s especially special to have an immediate connection to our past and the people that founded this wonderful community. In addition, Rebecca has kindly made a considerable donation towards the cost of digitalising our archives! We are hugely thankful to Rebecca and all the Wilmshursts, not only for creating this wonderful company in 1949, supporting it throughout the years, but also helping us preserve it’s history for all to enjoy today and for many more decades to come!
Share your story!
Do you have a memory, story or photo album you would be willing to share with us?
We would love to see it!! Please get in touch by emailing [email protected]
- Deceit and Disguise – tickets on sale!
Come and see our spectacular winter show!
Deceit and Disguise will be a spectacular performance of comic musical scenes connected through the themes of hiding and concealing. We will be exploring confused identity, heartbreak, deception and hilarity, which we so often see as the opening topic in G&S and beyond. This smart and snappy show will be a treat for the senses, consisting of of classic G&S numbers from Pirates, Pinafore and Iolanthe to Musical theatre – ABBA, Guys and Dolls, Cabaret, not to mention a couple of pieces by of Mozzart to Kander and Ebb!Diamond Jubilee Party
Combine your show experience with a ticket to our Diamond Jubilee Masquerade Party in honour of GLOC’s 75th anniversary! There will be a hot sumptuous buffet, drinks, games, singing, sweet treats and more! Dressing up is optional (but always encouraged!)We look forward to seeing you soon!
- Diamond Jubilee Masquerade Party!
Come and celebrate 75 years of GLOC!
Everyone is welcome, so bring your friends, old members and celebrate all things Gilbert and Sullivan for an evening of entertainment, delicious dinner, singing and more!
Dressing up is optional (but always encouraged!)