THE VICTORIA GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SOCIETY

About the Victoria Gilbert and Sullivan Society

Our Purpose

The Victoria Gilbert and Sullivan Society is a non-profit community theatre group dedicated to the promotion of the arts in Victoria, in particular the works of
William S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan.

Who We Are

Our Society was formed in 1945 when seven ladies from Christchurch Anglican Cathedral decided that Gilbert & Sullivan operettas should be performed regularly in Victoria.

After a few years the Society decided to include Broadway style shows in the repertoire and so G&S was performed less frequently.

There was a die-hard G&S faction in the group that felt strongly that the Society should perform only the works of G&S, so the Society became two groups; one devoted to performing the works of Gilbert and Sullivan and the other devoted to performing works from Broadway musicals. The Victoria Gilbert & Sullivan Society has been continuing ever since, with the occasional rest period.

Each of our staged productions is accompanied by a professional orchestra including members of the Victoria Symphony. We have also collaborated with the Victoria Civic Orchestra on many occasions to perform concert versions of Gilbert and Sullivan's major operettas. On each occasion members of our chorus have had the opportunity to sing with the 50+ orchestra under the direction George Corwin.

In addition to performing for our devoted audiences, we also give annual bursaries to two groups each year in an effort to encourage and support students of music and theatre who wish to make performing their career. The recipients of our bursaries are students of the University of Victoria's Voice Department and students of The Canadian College of Performing Arts.

Past members of our Society include Ken Lavigne, Brian Jackson, Michael Gormley, Leon Leontaridis, the late Colin Skinner and the late Kathleen West (who was a member of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company).

If you love the operettas of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan and would like to become involved with our Society, please click on the Volunteer button at the right and we'll make sure to reply promptly.


Board of Directors

President - Beverley van Druten-Blais
Vice President - Heather-Elayne Day
Treasurer - Norma Jee
Secretary - Linda Troke
Elizabeth Sly
Bob Hall
Arwen Thysse
Nancy Troke


Past President - Ilda Turcotte


Past Productions

Full Productions

The Mikado 2004, 2011, 2018
Pirates of Penzance 2002, 2009, 2017
HMS Pinafore 1989, 2004, 2014
The Gondoliers 1990, 1998, 2006, 2016
Iolanthe 2007, 2015
Patience 1992, 2008
Ruddigore 1999, 2013
The Sorcerer 1993, 2010
Trial by Jury/Cox and Box 1987, 1996
Trial by Jury/Pineapple Poll 2016

Gilbert & Sullivan in Concert with The Civic Orchestra of Victoria

Pirates of Penzance 2013
HMS Pinafore 2012
The Mikado 2009

Other Productions

A Music Hall Show 2023
Live to Dream Benefit Concert 2015
Another British Music Hall 2011
British Music Hall 2010
The Rivals-A Musical Romp 2008
Appearance with Canadian Pacific Ballet 2007
An Evening with Gilbert & Sullivan 2007
Appearance with the Victoria Symphony 2006
Choral Concert 2005
An Evening with Gilbert & Sullivan 2005
Sentimental Journey 2004
Celtic Concerts 2003
Carol Concert 2002
Feel the Spirit 2002
Gilbert & Sullivan a la Carte 2002
HMS Pinafore & Utopia 2001
Sprig of Thyme 2001
Topsy Turvy! 2000
Benefit for the Victoria Conservatory of Music 2000
No Sex Please, We're Gilbert & Sullivan! 1994
Another Night with Gilbert & Sullivan 1991
Spring into Song with Gilbert & Sullivan 1991
Excerpts from Gondoliers, Iolanthe, The Mikado 1989
An Evening with Gilbert & Sullivan 1988


Show Times
  • Stay tuned...

    for our next Performance

    To be announced.

Show Photos
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