Gilbert & Sullivan’s THE MIKADO bursts onto the Tabard Theatre stage transporting us to post-war Britain, where privilege, power, and pompous authority are rife and a love-struck minstrel is on the run.
Musical Direction is by Annemarie Lewis Thomas, who is very excited to be working on her first G&S production after a life-time love of the shows. She says “Seriously thrilled to be MDing The Mikado at The Tabard Theatre. When I was a child my mum used to take me to see our church amdram company doing their annual G&S production. As my mum volunteered to do FOH I’d sit there every night in awe of the performances, and the full orchestra conducted by the vicar no less. I became a G&S nerd. They were my gateway drug into theatre. Yet I’ve never worked on one of their shows . . . until now. I cannot wait”
This in-house production directed by Keith Strachen, marks a return of the Tabard Theatre’s long tradition of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. With a cast of 10, live music and a 5 week run, you’re in for an evening of joy, jubilation, and a jolly good time. It is directed by Keith Strachan.
Military chief THE MIKADO has set out that executions are mandatory; but Lord High Executioner Ko-Ko—a slippery spiv in a zoot suit—avoids carrying them out. Enter Nanki-Poo, THE MIKADO’s son in disguise, desperate to marry Yum-Yum, who’s unfortunately betrothed to Ko-Ko. When THE MIKADO demands an execution, Ko-Ko fakes one to save himself, roping in Pooh-Bah, a pompous bureaucrat, and Pish-Tush, a clueless toff. Meanwhile, the formidable Katisha arrives, determined to reclaim Nanki-Poo as her rightful fiancé.
Mistaken identities, absurd laws, and comic deception spiral abound – will there be a happy ending without a single execution?