GILBERT &
SULLIVAN
See Also: HOTELS The Savoy Hotel; OPERA; WEST END THEATRES The Savoy Theatre; OSCAR WILDE America; MENU
W.S.
Gilbert was one of the West End's leading playwrights and Arthur Sullivan was a
respected composer. They were introduced
to one another by John Hollingshead, the owner of The Gaiety Theatre. Their first collaboration, Thespis: or The
Gods Grown Old (1871), was staged at the Gaiety. It was not a success and they each went their
own way.
The
pair were re-introduced to one another by the impresario Richard d Oyly
Carte. Trial By Jury (1875) was
enough of a success to prompt the impresario to commission further work from
them. Carte and Sullivan became close to
one another, Gilbert was the outsider of the trio.
H.M.S.
Pinafore (1878) was an immense success in the United States, most of the
productions there paid no royalties. The
writers decided to capitalise on this success by giving The Pirates of
Penzance (1879) its premiere in New York.
Location:
Gaiety Theatre, Aldwych,
WC2B 4BZ. Demolished in 1903. The Silken Hotel occupies the site. (orange,
grey)
The
Savoy Theatre, Savoy Court, WC2R 0ET (blue, turquoise)
Website:
www.gsarchive.net http://www.eno.org/discover-opera/beginners-guide-gilbert-sullivan
The D'Oyly Carte Company
The
D'Oyly Carte Company was founded in 1879.
In 1982
the company was wound up. Six years
later it was re-established.
Location:
10 Margaret Street, W1W 8RL (blue, brown)
Website:
www.doylycarte.org.uk
David
Backhouse 2024