Choral Comedy 17 August 2025

CHORAL COMEDY – The Art of Gilbert & Sullivan.  Theatre Royal Sunday August 17th 3pm

Nelson Civic Choir and soloists presented an entertaining musical romp through the fanciful ‘topsy-turvy’ worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan in an afternoon of costumed frivolity with excerpts from HMS Pinafore, Trial By Jury, Ruddigore, Iolanthe, The Gondoliers, The Mikado, and The Pirates of Penzance.

Presenting at the Theatre Royal Nelson, for the first time in many years, members of the Nelson Civic Choir, under the musical and artistic direction of Jason Balla pulled out all the Victorian stops. Gilbert and Sullivan created a world where each absurdity is taken to its logical conclusion:  fairies rub elbows with British Lords, flirting is a capital offence, gondoliers ascend to the monarchy, and pirates emerge as noblemen who have gone astray …

A merry band of eight local soloists presented songs from some of the iconic G & S characters in between items from lively small group ensembles, and it was all topped off by rousing choruses. Choral Comedy presented an afternoon of memorable melodies with perfectly outrageous story lines performed in a completely deadpan way.

Nelson Civic Choir continues to captivate audiences with its thrilling concerts and varied programming. Audiences leave their concerts always wanting more whether it be a Christmas seasonal celebration at the cathedral or an evening of thrilling choral music at the NCMA auditorium. Now, returning to the stage of the Theatre Royal in Nelson after many years, Music Director Jason Balla brought a lifetime of experience in the theatre to lead this ‘motley crew’ of local singers and performers through a Victorian kaleidoscope of farcical choral comedy suitable for the whole family to enjoy.