Who We Are

Forming a new company is always harder than expected, but GASP! has quickly become a team of dedicated Gilbert & Sullivan fans joining together to re-kindle the love for the works of G&S on the Isle of Wight.

After a few phone calls to judge the response to the idea of forming a company, the rollercoaster started and ended up on 14th July 2022 at the first rehearsal for the Pirates of Penzance.

Over forty people turned up at the first rehearsal with another dozen apologies, and the Company was established and has worked so hard, laughing its way through the rehearsal period.

However, all the hard work, enthusiasm, and professionalism would not be to any end were it not for the amazing support of partners, families and especially our Audience.

A Christmas concert followed that first run of the Pirates of Penzance, and in September 2023 a fabulous production of Iolanthe. 2024 saw the Society perform a 5 show, sell-out run of the Mikado.

There will be a Christmas concert on the 15th December 2024, followed by a March 2025 Concert “An Evening at the Opera”, and our next G&S show ‘The Sorcerer’ coming in September 2025. We look forward to welcoming you to our shows!

Meet our Patrons

  • Alexander Oliver

    Alexander Oliver

    I first encountered the world of Gilbert & Sullivan aged seven, when I saw The Pirates of Penzance as performed by The Stirling and Bridge of Allan Amateur Operatic Society. I was hooked, instantly!

    Later, at the ripe age of 16, I sang an extremely adolescent Nanki Poo in a performance of my Alma Mater - The High School of Stirling. I have performed in Gilbert & Sullivan operas at various points in my career, and although my main focus was the classical world of opera, I always came back to G&S with the greatest of pleasure, most recently, and for the last time in some of the Brent Walker series, which was original shown by the BBC but is, I am told, still available on Amazon! I took part in the productions of Iolanthe, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Sorcerer.

    I am honoured to be invited to be a patron for this marvellous venture, along with my dear friend and distinguished colleage Rosemary Ashe.

    I can only say that if those of you who are involved have as much fun and pleasure as I did in performing this marvellous music, then you are all in for a very good time indeed! I send my very best wishes to all concerned for the biggest possible success!

  • Rosie Ashe

    Rosie Ashe

    Wishing the cast and crew of ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ the very best luck with your production in September! It’s such a fun show to do as I know having played Ruth many times. I hope you all enjoy yourselves as much as the audiences will! Here’s hoping you’ll sell out! As you go to print I’m in Cheltenham in the musical version of ‘The Great British Bake Off’ singing the role of Pru Leith.

  • Rob Forbes

    Rob Forbes

    Congratulations to all the members of the GASP! company on this exciting new venture, bringing back to the island the wonderful works of Gilbert & Sullivan. So many singers have had their first experience of musical theatre by appearing in productions of these operettas (I was 10 years old when I sang Pitti Sing in “The Mikado”), and some have gone on to professional careers. Who knows how many stars of the future will emerge from GASP! under the expert direction of Andrew and Steve? In the meantime, there is the fun (and stress) of preparing the music, stage direction, sets, lighting, costumes, wigs, make-up… the list goes on… so that the audience can enjoy the delightful romp of “The Pirates of Penzance”. Wishing you every success in your production. Have a brilliant time!