History Of The Society

Our  Society is the oldest and largest of the amateur theatre groups based at the University of Aberdeen.
It was founded in 1976 by students Michael James and Derek Blyth.

We have a reputation as one of the finest amateur operatic groups in the N-E of Scotland. We are unique in Aberdeen, as the only society currently performing full-scale Gilbert & Sullivan operettas on the local stage.

Click here for a message from our society founder, and view our Past Productions below.

Our performance record for the thirteen canonical Gilbert and Sullivan operas is as follows:

Trial by Jury (1875):   1980, 1983.
The Sorcerer (1877):    2005, **2013!**
H.M.S. Pinafore (1878):   1983, 1990, 1995, 2004.
The Pirates of Penzance (1880):   1987, 1993, 1999.
Patience (1881):   1982, 1989, 1996, 2010.
Iolanthe (1882):   1977, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2012
Princess Ida (1884):   1981, 2008.
The Mikado (1885):   1978, 1986, 1992, 2001, 2011.
Ruddigore (1887):   1985, 1991, 1998, 2009.
The Yeomen of the Guard (1888):   2006.
The Gondoliers (1889):   1979, 1984, 1997, 2007.
Utopia Limited (1893):  Not yet!
The Grand Duke (1896):  Not yet!

And one G&S spin-off, The Hot Mikado, in 2002.

Reviews of recent productions:

The Mikado (2011) :

ABERDEEN University’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society is celebrating its 35th anniversary with an excellent production of The Mikado, which opened at Aberdeen Arts Centre last night.

This is the society’s fifth production of Mikado but the first directed by Kirsty Kilmurry, who, with her talented production team, including musical director Brian Gunnee, has created a playful production that is immense fun and refreshingly lucid.

The crazy world of The Mikado is run by pompous officials and where summary executions are handed out for the most arbitrary of reasons. It’s a complex tale of love and politics but this production maintains a strong focus on the various plot strands while allowing the big characters such as James Corrigan’s brilliantly-sung Ko-Ko, the infamous Lord High Executioner, to shine through.

His love interest, Yum-Yum, is again beautifully sung by Martha Hayward, as is Allan Gilmour’s Nanki-Poo, who brings a lovely light comic touch to the role, creating a G&S character that is refreshingly natural and extremely appealing. Meanwhile, Daniel Fletcher’s wonderful Pooh-Bah is an impressive masterclass of greasy pomp.

An excellent, well-rehearsed chorus and orchestra make this Mikado a sheer delight. It runs at Aberdeen Arts Centre until Saturday and is highly recommended.”

Roddy Phillips, Press & Journal review, 21/2/2011

Patience (2010)

The little-performed Gilbert and Sullivan operetta Patience deals with a group of fickle women and the attraction of a romantic poet. With some jealous Dragoon Guards on hand and the arrival of a stranger who competes for the poetic crown, this production is filled with laughs all the way.

Director Tom Henderson puts years of performing experience to good use in this imaginative production. An accomplished orchestra supported a feast of vocal and acting talent.

Jonny Verrell steals the show as a brilliantly comedic Reginald Bunthorne, while Martha Hayward and AmyBeth Smith sing out the roles of Patience and The Lady Jane beautifully. This production bounds along with a real spring in its step.

Sonja Rasmussen, Evening Express review, 19/2/2010

1977 : Iolanthe	1978 : The Mikado	1979 : The Gondoliers
1980 : Ruddigore	1981 : Princess Ida	1982 : Patience
1983 : Trial By Jury / HMS Pinafore	1984 : The Gondoliers	1985 : Ruddigore
1986 : The Mikado	1987 : The Pirates Of Penzance	1988 : Iolanthe
1989 : Patience	1990 : HMS Pinafore	1991 : Ruddigore
1992 : The Mikado	1993 : The Pirates Of Penzance	1994 : Iolanthe
1995 : HMS Pinafore	1996 : Patience	1997 : The Gondoliers
1998 : Ruddigore	1999 : The Pirates Of Penzance	2000 : Iolanthe
2001 : The Mikado	2002 : Hot Mikado	2004 : HMS Pinafore
2005 : The Sorcerer	2006 : Yeomen Of The Guard	2007 : The Gondoliers
2008 : Princess Ida	2009 : Ruddigore	2010 : Patience
2011 : The Mikado	2012 : Iolanthe