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| Establishment: Trading Name: Wellington G&S Light Opera (WGSLO) Legal Name: The Wellington Gilbert and Sullivan Society Incorporated Legal Entity Incorporated Society Postal Address: PO Box 3638, Wellington Email Address: savoy@actrix.co.nz GST registration: 10-668-743 Tax Status Registered Charitable Organisation CC38117 Financial year: January to December Membership categories: Ordinary, and Life. AGM held: March, in Wellington Management: Elected executive. Patron: His Excellency Lieutenant General the Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae, GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand 2010 Executive: President: Stuart Gordon tel (04)389 9271, 021 636 926 Vice-President David Owen tel (04)477 9081, 027 240 7629 Immediate Past President: (not applicable since 2005) Secretary: Ellen Spear tel (04)479 1685, 027 515 5716 Treasurer: David Skinner tel (04)569 5434 Committee Members: Gillian Gordon, Lindsay Groves, Anne Keen, Donna Philpott, QSM, Fiona Thomson WGSLO, founded in 1957, is committed to the promotion of light opera including the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, through regular productions and recitals/concerts of a high standard. The productions are to involve a range of performers from amateur to professional, providing a training ground for advancing talent, and to be attractive to a wide audience. This emphasis on musical quality has over the years assisted several Mobil/Lexus Song Quest finalists, winners and other performers in their development, some advancing to a professional career in opera. In 2007, the 50th anniversary of its founding, WGSLO celebrated with a production of Offenbach's only Grand Opera. The Tales of Hoffmann, marking a transition from essentially G&S repertoire to include other works of high musical value and appeal outside the G&S canon every third year, continuing this with production of Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus in 2010. WGSLO has for some time given performances at Southward's Theatre, Kapiti, as well as a Wellington or Lower Hutt venue, but from 2005 onwards extended its productions by touring to other centres in the region, including Masterton, Palmerston North, and Wanganui. As a non-profit society of cultural interest, WGSLO's articles of incorporation forbid distribution to members of any profit. If wound up, assets are required to be gifted to a similar organisation. Grants from cultural organisations and trusts and donations by individuals form a significant proportion of the funding necessary to mount productions at the desired level, and overheads are low, principally maintenance of a store of sets, props, technical assets, music and wardrobe at a location in Upper Hutt. There are no salaried staff. Auditions and rehearsals are held at Te Whaea (the National School of Dance and Drama) in Newtown. WGSLO enjoys co-operative support from the Vector Wellington Orchestra, New Zealand School of Music, NBR New Zealand Opera, and the professional musical community. |
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