WHEN REHEARSALS began for Saddleworth Musical Society’s autumn show it was evident director Anita Stuttard had a clear vision of how SMS Pinafore would take shape.
Working with co-writers Stuart Crowther and choir members Valerie and Martin Kavanagh, she developed the script and characterisations without altering the musical score, rhyming pattern or wit of the original Gilbert and Sullivan operetta.
The Society is very appreciative of non-member Stuart’s input and congratulate him on his achievements – so who better to describe then journey?
Stuart says: “As a professional actor and writer, I had a wonderful start in amateur and community theatre and still like to support local societies, who produce wonderful work.
“So when the opportunity came to collaborate with Anita and Saddleworth Musical Society on a contemporary reimaging of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta HMS Pinafore, I jumped at the chance.
“Working with Anita has been a wonderful experience. When I was first starting out, she gave me so many opportunities and really encouraged me to pursue performing professionally.
“We last worked together several years ago at Saddleworth on The Merry Widow, and also with children and young people, with whom we ran summer schools and performing workshops.
“Since then, I have graduated from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, had my writing produced across the country and begun my professional performing career, most recently in The Titanic Orchestra at the Pleasance Theatre with John Hannah.
“In adapting HMS Pinafore, Anita had a clear idea of what she was trying to achieve. We had previously worked together on a more traditional staging of the operetta so I was familiar with the text.
“What’s great about working with Anita is she always has a vision for each and every production, be it a particular style or an aesthetic she wants to communicate.
“She is bold and forward-thinking and never takes the ‘easy road’, which makes her a wonderful director – she challenges her actors to experiment with new ideas and to achieve the highest standards.
“Anita and I had several discussions early on about updating HMS Pinafore and we began to look for ways in which the material lent itself to being modernised, which could be as simple as
changing the language or as complex as changing particular characters’ backstories and motivations.
“For instance, we changed Little Buttercup/Mrs Cripps from a fortune-telling shore dweller into a drunken lounge magician on board a luxury liner.
“In some instances, however, we decided to allow the existing text to speak for itself, finding a justification for the poetic language – the character of Ralph finds his flowery declarations of love in a ‘how-to’ manual.
“What is so important in adapting Gilbert and Sullivan is to honour the wit and ingenuity of the originals.
“The object is not to demean the existing material or to pass it over as old-fashioned, but rather to celebrate the source material and bring it to life for a new generation while honouring the traditions that have made it so popular for so many years.”
SMS Pinafore runs from October 27-31 at Saddleworth School starting at 7:30pm on Tuesday-Friday and a matinee on Saturday at 2:30pm.
Tickets are from £8 to £12 and are available via www.saddmussoc.org or from the Methodist Church, Uppermill between 7-8pm on Thurs evenings.
Please note: Uppermill High Street will be closed for resurfacing on some of the performance evenings but contractors have agreed to halt the work at 10pm each evening to allow the audience to depart.
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