2024 is the New London Opera Group’s 20th anniversary season and we have big plans to celebrate!

The season will begin with a new semi-staged production of Johann Strauss’s sparkling operetta Die Fledermaus in London and Louth in February, and a new production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic satire HMS Pinafore in our regular summer slot in Louth in June.

Die Fledermaus (or the Revenge of the Bat) is the most popular Viennese operetta – an instant hit when first performed in 1874, it has never been out of the popular repertoire. Bursting with great tunes, including the famous Strauss waltzes and polkas, and a farcical comic plot of practical jokes, marital intrigues and mistaken identities, it’s the perfect way to brighten a dark February.

The plot concerns a revenge planned by Dr Falke on his old friend Gabriel von Eisenstein for a practical joke a few years earlier. His plot ropes in the services of a louche Russian aristocrat, a prison governor and even Eisenstein’s wife and her flirtatious maid.

Die Fledermaus’s celebratory atmosphere makes it the perfect choice for our 20th anniversary, and because the (excellent) chorus music is concentrated in a few scenes, we can minimise the rehearsal commitment with chorus just called once a week, with principals on the other dates. The Louth performances will involve a short stay of three nights, arriving on Thursday 22 February and departing on 25 February. Of course, we will include some of the usual “organised fun” during this time, so it’s a great opportunity for anyone who has not been to Louth before to join in.

The semi-staged production is initially planned with piano accompaniment and will be conducted by company Musical Director Alex Carpenter. The staging will be by Chris Cann and will include lots of movement and dance, costumes, props and basic furniture and sets. The performances will be sung in English.

HMS Pinafore is Gilbert and Sullivan’s first true hit, packed with some of their most irresistible music and a hilariously satirical story that borders on absurdist, sharply lampooning the British class system as well as the plot conventions of grand opera, boasting high-energy comedy and a crew of vivid characters.

Our Napoleonic/Regency-era set production will be staged by NewLOG veteran director Tony Bannister and musical director Alex Carpenter, with gorgeous period costumes by Eirian Walsh Atkins and her talented team, and set design by Chris Cann. Expect a sumptuous, high-spirited production with fun choreography and fast-paced comedy for everyone to enjoy – chorus and principals alike!

Our Summer Louth productions at our beloved home-from-home in Lincolnshire are always tremendous fun, with lots of activities to get involved with as well as the performances themselves – including our annual costume ball – so there’s lots to do on and off stage for everyone.

All the important information and dates for your diary:

Die Fledermaus:
An intro evening with drinks and nibbles, a chance to meet the production team and sing some of the chorus music (and have a waltz!) will take place at Holy Trinity Church, Prince Consort Road, South Kensington SW7 2BA, on Wednesday 18 October 2023.

Auditions for principal roles will be held on Sunday 29 October at Holy Trinity Church. Details of how to register an audition appointment will be announced soon by email, on our Facebook page and here on the NewLOG website. As ever, there are no auditions to join our chorus, and there are even a few non-singing roles for policemen and prison warders, and dancers too – if anyone knows of any dancers who might like to take part, we’d like to include the (short) Act II ballet if we can!

Performances will take place in London (venue TBC) on 9 and 10 February 2024 and at the Riverhead Theatre, Louth, Lincolnshire on 23 and 24 February, with cast needed in Louth from 22 February and departing on 25 February.

HMS Pinafore:
The intro evening will take place at Holy Trinity Church on a date (tbc) in March 2024, with auditions for principal roles (no auditions for chorus) expected before Easter and rehearsals starting just after. More precise details will be announced when venue availability is confirmed.

Performances will be at the Riverhead Theatre in Louth on Thursday 20 to Saturday 22 June 2024, with cast needed in Louth from Wednesday 19 June and departing on 23 June.

We hope you’ll join us to celebrate our 20th anniversary season – it’s going to be a great NewLOG year!

_{The New London Opera Group is a non-for-profit amateur theatre company. All participation expenses (accommodation, travel, etc) are borne by participants and no fees are paid to cast members, directors, musical directors or board members. A financial contribution or “show fee” is payable by all participants to help cover production costs.}