27 April – 7 May, 2023

It is the final decade of the 19th century. Lord Frederick Ffincham-Ffarquhar has organised a soirée of songs from Gilbert and Sullivan’s well-loved comic operas, featuring members of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company and his household staff. Join him in the Grand Drawing Room of his stately home for Here’s a How-De-Do, an extravaganza of melody and merriment.

Love Gilbert & Sullivan? You’ll love this! Never heard of them? Come and find out what all the fuss is about. Think Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, Yeomen of the Guard, HMS Pinafore, Ruddigore, Trial by Jury … Three Little Maids, Modern Major General, Poor Little Buttercup, I’ve Got a Little List, Tit Willow … with a dash of domestic chaos to add to the humour!

Director and Presenter Peter Segrove has crafted this show to give the audience the feel of being guests seated in his drawing room, witnessing an evening typical of the time – except the singing is of a higher quality than standard, and the domestic staff introduce a little more difficulty than the ideal! Singers are all professional musicians and most are past or present members of the NZ Opera Chorus.  They include Henrietta Reid, Philippa Mandeno, Jess Wells, Wilson Wang, Graham Mandeno, Campbell Ellison, Dragan Atanasov, Christina Ellison, and Penny Watson

Piano accompaniment is by Roz Langdon, with musical direction by Graham Mandeno.

This is a limited season and Lord Ffincham-Ffarquhar has limited chairs in his Drawing Room so don’t delay. Book Now!