Orchestra Formed

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31380, 27 May 1967, Page 21

Orchestra Formed

The Christchurch Gilbert and Sullivan Society has formed its own orchestra from its membership, and both the orchestra and a chorus of 45 has been in rehearsal for the society’s . first production, “H.M.S. Pinafore,” which will be staged in July. "Because the Gilbert and Sullivan tradition is so well established in New Zealand, the society has been able to draw on people of talent and experience to head a strong team of principals,” said the society’s publicity manager (Mr R. McPherson). “Mr L. Clark, known to Christchurch audiences for his production of “The Mikado’ for the Operatic Society two years ago, is producing ‘Pinafore.’ But he and the musical director (Mr J. Cunningham) have worked as a production team before, with a number of musicals, including Gilbert and Sullivan, in Oamaru.” The Christchurch society, he said, had formed links with sister organisations in Wellington and Dunedin, and had been able to borrow a large part of the wardrobe to be used in “Pinafore” from the Wellington society. “The management committee has been impressed by the overwhelming amount of goodwill that has been evident whenever the public and business people have been asked to help in the early stages of the society’s formation, and since rehearsals began,” said Mr McPherson.