Godalming Operatic Society

Godalming Operatic Society is widely regarded as one of the country's leading Gilbert and Sullivan Societies. The Society was founded in 1924 and had its first production, The Yeomen of the Guard, in 1925. Since then (excepting the war and Covid years) it has put on a major Gilbert & Sullivan production every year, including the more rarely performed works such as The Grand Duke and Utopia Ltd.

Currently we perform a fully staged G&S opera every February, with a full professional orchestra under our musical director Dick Stockton.

In June or July we normally put on a smaller scale concert or work.

We have been awarded the NODA South-East Region's "Best G&S production" no less than four times in the last twelve years (Princess Ida in 2014, The Grand Duke in 2016, The Pirates of Penzance in 2023 and Patience in 2024).

We have taken several of our productions to international festivals.  In 2005 the Society performed Iolanthe at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton  In 2007 it performed Utopia, Limited at the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera in Ireland, gaining an award. In 2012 we returned to Buxton to perform The Pirates of Penzance. In 2014, we performed Princess Ida at the International G&S festival in Harrogate, winning an award for 'Best Costumes'. We are returning to Buxton in August 2025 with The Yeomen of the Guard.

We have a very active social side to the group. We hold a wide range of social events and regularly organise trips to see other shows.

Our production in February 2026 will be Utopia, Limited with rehearsals starting in September and with principal auditions on September 28th.

We always welcome new members. If you are interested in joining (as principal, chorus or back stage helper), please contact our Chairman: Lee Power chairman@godalmingoperatic.org or visit our website www.godalmingoperatic.org