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Plans for International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival to return to Royal Hall later this year

The International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival is set to return to The Royal Hall in Harrogate later this year.

The International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival is set to return to The Royal Hall in Harrogate later this year. Organisers are hoping that the two-week event, which features a variety of Gilbert and Sullivan performances and fringe events, will be able to go ahead from 8th-22nd August 2021. The event usually attracts thousands of visitors to The Royal Hall, including performers, supporters, and Gilbert and Sullivan enthusiasts from around the world. [caption id="attachment_7534" align="alignnone" width="2048"] The International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival at the Royal Hall in Harrogate (Photo: Jane Stokes)[/caption] In the meantime, visitors and fans are able to visit the festival's new Gilbert and Sullivan Opera TV Streaming Service. GSOPERA.TV is a new and exclusive streaming channel for the annual International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, and has come to fruition to give the festival an online presence during the pandemic. GSOPERA.TV Development Director Oliver Smith said:

"As an arts organisation we knew we had to change the way worked to ensure the Festival continued.  Nothing can beat the thrill of live theatre, but we firmly believe that the future must include a strong digital and online presence." All performances at the festival since 1998 had been professionally filmed, with some footbage available to view from as far back as 1994.
Oliver added:
"We have now created Apps for Apple IOS,  Android tablets and smartphones, and we are very proud to announce that our new Fire TV App is now available to download.  We are very proud of how fast and how far we have come since those dark days of March 2020."
GSOPERA.TV have now commissioned several programmes to commence as soon as restrictions allow. GSOPERA.TV features productions by professional opera companies including the acclaimed National G&S Opera Company, Charles Court Opera and Forbear! Theatre as well as concerts, award-winning Festival productions, interviews and masterclasses. Renowned international opera singer Donald Maxwell will launch a "How to Sing Opera" masterclass in March, and many more classes are in the pipeline. Subscriptions to GSOPERA.TV cost £9.99 (monthly) or £99.99 (annual). Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.

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