Gondoliers: Director's Vision
Nigel Machin, our director, wrote the following about this year's show for the programme:
So here I am again, this evening you will see the fourth production directed by me for MUGSS and I am
very pleased to be asked back again to think of interesting things to do with The Gondoliers. I have
a reputation for pushing the boundaries a little when it comes to Gilbert & Sullivan. Not to be described
as a 'traditional' production, the holiday camp atmosphere of this version is contagious and the 'Hi de
Hi' undertone does not lose its appeal when injected into this G&S masterpiece. The word 'version' is
used with some hesitancy because I am adamant about not changing the dialogue or music (a discipline
Peter England has taught me).
What is exciting about G&S today is that it transposes to other settings because the characters are so
well constructed and eccentric. There is always a hierarchy of individuals in the G&S world with those
in charge and the underdog that they manipulate. Add in the love story, a mistaken identity, and a
little fancy dress and you have the basic ingredients for most sitcoms today. No doubt there is a
G&S production that could be set in Grace Brother’s department store or in middle England during
the Second World War, not wanting to undermine the settings that were chosen by Gilbert however.
He was reacting to the popular culture of the day and within context of popular musical theatre
there is fun to be had from choosing a new setting that in the most part (although I admit not
entirely) fits into the spirit of the original production. For all of my productions, and there
has been many throughout the North West, fun is the word to sum them up – fun for the cast in
rehearsal and performance, and hopefully fun for the audience.
A model of this year's set
This year's show flyer
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