THE SAVOY SINGERS, based in Camberley, Surrey, are a leading and long-established amateur operatic society which prides itself on the excellence and professionalism of its productions. From Gilbert & Sullivan operas through operetta to the modern musical, the Savoy Singers performing at the Camberley Theatre, combine musical quality with innovative production.

It was very flattering to be invited back by Ravenscote Community Junior School in Frimley, to run a workshop on behalf of The Savoy Singers. Our present production - Gilbert & Sullivan's operetta, The Sorcerer - is great fun to perform and watch but does not lend itself to a workshop for schools as did HMS Pinafore and Pirates of Penzance.
After some discussion with the school, we decided to look at the work of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, a partnership we as a society had explored in our October 2011 Revue. The delightful melodies of carefully chosen songs from some of the musicals of this partnership are perfect for an end of term staged concert for the three choirs at Ravenscote. To support their project, we agreed on six out of all the musical numbers chosen for the end of term concert, to use in a workshop in February.
The new Head of Music and Creative Arts at Tomlinscote School and Sixth Form College, James Casselton, looking to make links with Ravenscote as one of Tomlinscote's feeder junior schools, agreed to open the workshop with "tonic solfa fun" to link with "Do-Re-Mi", one of the songs which will be featured from "The Sound of Music". Members of The Savoy Singers will then continue the day with a look at the unique partnership of Rodgers and Hammerstein; an exercise in writing new words for "My Favourite Things"; and making the most of the chosen songs with simple staging. Our Stage Manager kindly hinged our Rodgers & Hammerstein flats to be used to furnish the staging area both for the workshop day and the school's own end of term concert.
The day will finish with a joint presentation - school choirs and members of The Savoy Singers - which will demonstrate to the school the day's achievements. Geoff Horton is going to join us for that and sing for the presentation which should prove a real treat for the children. The choirs will then build on this to produce their own full presentation as an end of term staged concert in March.We shall be distributing Sorcerer flyers and hope some of the children and their parents will come to see "The Sorcerer" March 7th-10th, 2012. Links between Savoy Singers and local schools established in this way are a fun and exciting way to raise the profile of musical theatre for young people in our area. In my experience it is these innovations in the daily timetable of the school curriculum that children remember in later life.

“What a wonderful evening’s entertainment you provided for your audience”.

“Two hours of pure joy. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Lovely music and well produced and acted, as usual”.

“I could have quite happily sat through the show again”.

These are just a few of the favourable comments received on our Web-site following our production in October of THEIR STORY IN SONG, a Revue which followed the lives of Rodgers and Hammerstein and their musical partnerships. It included songs from shows in the 20’s such as Rose Marie, The Desert Song and Showboat right up to shows in the 40’s to 60’s such as Oklahoma, South Pacific, The King and I and The Sound of Music.  A veritable feast of top songs from top shows, and no wonder the audiences left the Theatre singing!

SOMETHING SPECIAL  is being “brewed up” for our next Show in March as we shall be performing THE SORCERER by those Victorian  masters, W S Gilbert & Sir Arthur Sullivan. The English people and a cup of tea are synonymous, and in the plot cups of tea play an important role, especially when they have been doctored with a love filter!

You can expect a little romance, delightful music by Sullivan mixed with Gilbert’s usual witty and pithy dialogue.

As it is some thirteen years since it was last performed by us it will be welcomed by G & S devotees old and new.

Make a note now of the performance dates at Camberley Theatre - 7th to 10th March 2012.

The Society welcomes potential new singers and actors, and for more information please visit our new Web site www.savoysingers.org.uk
Further information can be obtained by contacting Pam Stevens on 07710 772792 or by e-mail here.

  Our Rodgers and Hammerstein Revue was applauded and cheered by the first night audience and was without doubt the success we hoped for. From the moment Rupert Gardner, our Musical Director, sat at the grand piano on stage and wowed the assembling audience with his jazz piano playing, the atmosphere was set. The arrival of the cast on stage in glittering evening dress and the opening number, accompanied by the excellent band, brought the revue to life.The evening continued with the non-stop compilation of songs, medleys, narration and sketches as Richard Rodgers (Gary Gordon), reflected on his and Oscar Hammerstein's careers.

There are so many people to thank during a production and I can think of no better place than here on the website to publicly thank everyone, and I mean everyone, who has worked so hard on this revue -  not forgetting the performers for learning so much music and so many words! The list of course is endless and I hesitate to start thanking individuals. However, we particularly have to thank Jane Clifford, for the amount of sewing she has done to make the beautiful skirts for Act 2 and John Pibworth, for his work on the set and the hanging flats, so expertly lit by the theatre staff. Also Rupert and Kasia for their delightful arrangement and the musicians who worked tirlessly under Rupert's direction.  

Several members of the Savoy Singers attended the 18th International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival held during the first three weeks of August. Details of the festival are on http://www.gsfestivals.org/  and many of you may have seen the piece on BBC breakfast news.  Chris and Sarah-Jane Hall, and Philip Barton were in the chrous of the SavoyNet Performing Group's production of The Mikado This was directed by Stuart Box (who you will recall was stage director for our recent productions of Iolanthe and The Zoo) and Kathryn Barton was costume co-ordinator.

http://savoynet.oakapplepress.com.

Watching this morning's Breakfast Time, my attention was suddenly drawn to an item with Eastenders' star Samantha Womack and the mention of South Pacific. Samantha is presently rehearsing a West End revival of South Pacific with Brazilian opera star Paolo Szot. History repeating itself - Mary Martin starred in the original with opera star Ezio Pinza. Paolo Szot has just completed two and a half years on Broadway with South Pacific and was enjoying working with a new cast and director for this latest London production.

The programme showed a clip of Samantha and Paolo rehearsing "Some Enchanted Evening" and Paolo singing this amazing song. Paolo had won a Tony award for his role in the Broadway production - does anything change, Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals still winning Tony Awards? The musical will be in London's West End from mid August - October and then goes on tour. Samantha said it was a gritty production. This is not Samantha's first musical, she last appeared in Guys and Dolls with Patrick Swazeybefore working on Eastenders. The programme showed Samantha singing "I'm as Corny as Kansas in August" very simply, using a very relaxed tempo.

Coincidentally, we have chosen both these songs to be the  South Pacific contribution to our Rodgers and Hammerstein Revue.You can hear Ian Henderson (our resident opera star!) singing "Some Enchanted Evening" and Sarah Wenban appearing as Mary Martin to sing "I'm as Corny as Kansas in August", the song specially written for Mary Martin in the original production.

Of course our Revue can be seen the first week in October at Camberley's west end theatre, "The Camberley Theatre", so bring your friends for a magical evening of many of Rodgers' and Hammerstein's show revivals
in an evening packed with song.

Welcome to our Savoy News page where articles can be submitted by you.  If you want to submit an article, I can now show you how to do it.  

Over the last few days, Philip, Alastair, Chris, Jane and myself have all been helping to get the website up and running. For me it continues to be a steep learning curve and I realise that for the others it would be easier and faster but they are at work and unavailable in the day to work with Dean, the web designer. It is exciting and exercising  my old brain cells! Every time I have a bit more 'training', I am trying to put it into practice before I forget it. Hence this article, as a result of this morning's phone call and 'training'! Also see the rehearsals listed in Coming Events on the right hand side of the Home page - Monday's 'training'! - click on the rehearsal on the front page and it will take you through to the rehearsal page specific for that date and tell you what we are intending to cover.

 Things are really moving along with the Revue and our striking flyer is available for you to distribute throughout the area and to friends and relatives. I am still looking for that publicity team. I have offers to take on specific areas of publicity but it needs an organised and coordinated team to cover every angle.

It was very sad to hear of the death of Janie Jones on Saturday 9th July. Janie was a Life Member and had been with the Society as a Performing Member for many years before retiring to be an Associate Member who continued to support us. She will be missed by us all and particularly from her usual place in the foyer where she ran our show raffle, without fail, every March and October. Ann has details of funeral arrangements.