Tivoli hosts historical opera after 144 year gap

26/07/2022
The cast of ‘The Sorcerer' which is returning to the Tivoli after 144 years

ABERDEEN’S Gilbert and Sullivan Society is bringing ‘The Sorcerer’ back to the Tivoli Theatre after 144 years.

The opera originally ran for more than 170 performances at the Opera Comique in London in 1877, and the original touring production of ‘The Sorcerer’ debuted on the Tivoli stage in Aberdeen, back when the venue was still known as Her Majesty’s Opera House, in 1878.

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The opera will be performed from Thursday, August 4th to Saturday, August 6th this year, with the rare distinction of a production returning to the same stage after a gap of 144 years.

The performing group has returned after an unprecedented two year break, with the show originally planned for March 2021, but pushed back due to COVID-19 restrictions. They last took to the stage in 2020 for their acclaimed production of ‘Iolanthe’. 

The third operatic collaboration between W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, “The Sorcerer” follows young lovers Alexis and Aline who hire a cut-rate sorcerer to distribute a love potion among the guests at their engagement party, resulting in comically mismatched couples and hilarious consequences.

Brian Gunnee, Chairman of the Aberdeen Gilbert & Sullivan Society, commented: “Like many local companies, Aberdeen’s G&S society have really felt the effects of the pandemic. It’s more important now than it’s ever been to support local talent and local theatre.” 

“This group has been bringing G and S shows to Aberdeen since 1976 and ‘The Sorcerer’ has such an exciting connection to Aberdeen. The whole cast is looking forward to sharing this magical production!”

Aberdeen’s Gilbert and Sullivan society recently performed sections from ‘The Sorcerer’ at NE Scotland Performing Arts Festival, being awarded with an ‘outstanding’ certificate by adjudicator Paul Keohone, who described the performance as “Joyful…This is what singing is all about!”

Tickets can be purchased at https://thetivolitheatre.com/events/the-sorcerer/

The group also has a Go-Fund-Me page for the production that can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/thesorcerer2022

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