Topsy Turvy Tea 2022
Although not a concert organised by the G&S Society of Sussex, we wanted to share details of this important event with you.
On Sunday 30th October 2022 about 200 people (cast, crew and audience) came together to celebrate the life of Melvyn Tarran, who had passed away in June.
Susan Fleet and colleagues devised an afternoon concert of Gilbert and Sullivan in Sussex headlined with Bruce Graham (formerly a member of the original D’Oyly Carte) and Alexandra Hazard (of the National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company) supported by a chorus of about 25 local G&S enthusiasts, all under the musical direction of Michael Maine.
All operas were represented (excepting Thespis!) with at least one musical item and the event was linked together by Laurence Leng as the Master of Ceremonies.
As well as paying tribute to Melvyn for the work he had done in promoting G&S locally and internationally, the event was to raise funds for St Peter and St James Hospice which cared for Melvyn in his final weeks. A magnificent sum of £2,500 was raised and this was handed over to the charity on 6th December.
This event was sold out well in advance and was enthusiastically received by the audience.
A follow up concert is in the planning stage for 22nd October 2023 in Hurstpierpoint featuring a number of people from the world of Gilbert and Sullivan.
Get the date in your diary NOW!
Concert photographs by Mike Tagg