International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival 2020 in Derbyshire is cancelled amid Covid-19 lockdown

This year’s International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Derbyshire has been cancelled amid coronavirus lockdown.
The Pirates of Penzance performed by the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company. Photo by Jane Stokes.The Pirates of Penzance performed by the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company. Photo by Jane Stokes.
The Pirates of Penzance performed by the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company. Photo by Jane Stokes.

The 26-year-old festival runs in Buxton and Harrogate during late July and August. A statement from the organisers said: “The festival has always taken place annually, except of course for this year because of Covid-19.”

Next year's festival has been scheduled for July 31 to August 7 at Buxton Opera House and August 8 to 22 at Harrogate Royal Hall.

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All is not lost for G&S fans this year, however, as previous festival performances are being streamed on a new website. They include the 2019 productions of The Pirates of Penzance, The Gondoliers and The Yeoman of the Guard, the 2018 presentation of Haddon Hall and the 2016 production of The Mikado as well as shows from the first year of the festival in 1994.

To watch the productions online, go to www.gsopera.tv