Patience

Wed 30th October – Sat 2nd November 2024
Wed - Fri, 7.30pm
Sat, 2.30pm

Box Office: 07790 891380 or email ShepshedGandSTickets@gmail.com


Christchurch Gilbert and Sullivan Society are in pursuit of beauty and love in their upcoming production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operetta ‘Patience’. Aren’t we all?! But this is a noble and unselfish love – more of a duty than a passion – and it doesn’t always bring happiness.

In ‘Patience’, the target of Gilbert’s satire is aestheticism, an art movement associated with the likes of Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Oscar Wilde. It celebrates producing art for art’s sake, focusing on its beauty rather than using it for moral teachings. If you think that doesn’t sound relevant for today’s audiences, then it’s a satire on fads and hero-worshipping. How quickly we can change our ways to follow a trend or movement and then look back afterwards and wonder what we were thinking!

Central to the story is the self-indulgent poet Reginald Bunthorne, who finds himself idolised by the maidens of the village. They hang on his every word and vie for his attention, but his eyes are set on the plain milkmaid Patience. Unfortunately for Bunthorne, Patience is not one of the ‘twenty love-sick maidens’. She declines his advances as she has never loved and doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about.

Meanwhile, the 35th Dragoon Guards have arrived home expecting to get engaged to the ladies, who had previously adored them. Imagine their surprise when they discover Bunthorne has replaced them as the focus of the ladies’ affections!

After some words of advice from Lady Angela, Patience sets her mind to loving someone. By happy circumstance she is reunited with a childhood friend, Archibald Grosvenor, who is also a poet. Although their childhood love is reignited, they believe that they cannot be together as Grosvenor is too perfect. It would be too easy and selfish to love him! Patience decides that if love must be unselfish and a duty, then she should set her mind to loving Bunthorne. But will it make her happy and what will become of Grosvenor?

Sullivan’s beautiful musical score includes ‘I hear a soft note’, ‘Love is a plaintive song’, ‘Am I alone and unobserved’, ‘Twenty love-sick maidens we’, ‘The Soldiers of our Queen’ and the wonderful comic duet ‘So go to him, and say to him’ A talented 12-piece live orchestra will bring the score to life.

‘Patience’ is directed by Cheryl Hammersley with Musical Director Nicole Jordan and additional choreography by Amy North.

With limited performances, make sure you don’t miss out and see who will become Bunthorne’s bride!

Accessibility

There is step-free access into Iveshead School, and the theatre can be accessed via a lift to the lower foyer and a side door into the auditorium. There is some flat floor seating which can be removed to accommodate wheelchair users. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have any specific accessibility requirements.