Players to stage Thespis

10:57am Thursday 18th September 2008

The Chapel End Savoy Players are to present a concert version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s first comic opera, THESPIS, for the first time in the Players’ history.

Following a successful performance of Ruddygore this year, the amateur dramatic society hark back to the beginning of Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous partnership, who first performed the opera in on Boxing Day in London, in 1871.

The concert follows Thespis and his troupe of travelling actors replacing the aging gods on Mount Olympus as they embark on a holiday on Earth. The group of actors are inept rulers, and the gods must angrily return to correct the madness.

The piece was never published, and most of Sullivan’s original compositions were lost, while others were reworked into later, more famous productions, particularly The Pirates Of Penzance.

The Chapel End Savoy Players are turning back to the music put together by St Pats Players, a Canadian group who took several of Sullivan’s solo compositions and applied Gilbert’s words, as well as reclaiming some bigger, widely loved pieces.

Thepsis runs on Friday 26 and Saturday September 27 2008 at St John’s Church, Chingford Road, Walthamstow, E17 4LH at 7.30pm, with doors opening at 7.00pm.

The venue has disabled facilities. Tickets: are £7.50 each, and refreshments are available.

Please note that seats are not numbered and tickets may be ordered from: CESP, 100, Whitehall Gardens, Chingford, London E4 6EJ. Tel: 8529 3143. E-mail: m.offord100@btopenworld.com. Please send Remittance (Cheques etc.) payable to C.E.S.P and a stamped addressed envelope to the above address.

If you are interested in joining CESP, please phone Jackie on 0785 2928287, or e-mail Rowena at secretary.cesp@virgin.net.

For any additional information you can visit their website at www.cesp.org.uk.Their next production will be a full operatic performance of HMS Pinafore at The Deaton Theatre, Forest School, Snaresbrook in May 2009.