Farewell my own, Light of my life, farewell

It is with the greatest regret that Kenwin Barton Gilbert and Sullivan Singers (Gilbert and Sullivan Cornwall) have agreed to disband as of 8th November 2023 due to lack of members to do justice to even concert versions of this wonderful music, in particular male singers. Many thanks to all of you who have sung with us and supported our concerts over the 60 years we have been in existence. We will miss you all.

Audience Feedback

Some lovely feedback from the secretary at The Sir Arthur Sullivan Society, and former Administrator at the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, who was in the audience of our concert at Tregony Village Hall on Wednesday.

“Just back from Tregony Village Hall and the Kenwin Barton G&S Singers’ concert version of Trial by Jury. They had to overcome some serious challenges, including a misbehaving keyboard and the loss of several of their members to illness, but, even though their numbers were reduced to the mid-teens, they had some decent voices and made a very praiseworthy effort.

Tregony Village Hall is not a large building, lending itself to an intimate approach, and some lively compèring from the MD, who also bolstered the tenors from time to time, ensured a good atmosphere and the audience were right behind the performers throughout. There was a nice spread of ages in the choir, and they did some good work, notably in ‘A nice dilemma’, and in some of the numbers that made up the first half: in particular two madrigals (Mikado and Ruddigore) and ‘When the foeman’, complete with genuine Cornish coppers.

A warm, fun evening.”

The final concert of our Autum season is Wednesday 16th November at Jubilee Hall, Mevagissey. It starts at 7.30pm.

Booking a concert with Kenwin Barton G&S Singers

Would your organisation/venue like us to come and sing for you?

This year we are doing a first half of mixed G&S solos, duets, trios, quartets and chorus pieces from different operettas, and in the second half we are doing the whole of “Trial by Jury” a short and fun operetta based on a case of Breach of Promise which ends up in total chaos. The total time will be about 1hr 30mins – 2 hrs.

Our normal modus operandi is that you book us for a fee of £50; this is to cover our expenses in hiring our rehearsal room in Truro as no member of the society including our M.D. and accompanist is paid expenses. 

We ask that you take responsibility for preparing the venue, advertising, and ticket sales. A suggested entry fee of £5 means that all you need to do is sell 10 tickets to cover your costs, the rest is profit for you. Any other fund-raising you do e.g. raffles, refreshments are subject to any rules appertaining to your premises.

We will arrange for a programme and poster to be designed and sent to you so you can photocopy it. This will give a precis of the story, and a cast list.

We are getting booked up, but have Wednesdays free in September, October and November. Please use our contact form to make an enquiry.

Margaret Dare

It is with sadness that I report the death of Margaret, the widow of Eric Dare (Dcd) of Truro. Eric served as a chorus member, principal, director and M.D. at various times during his membership of our group, and Margaret was a strong supporter of both him and us. Condolences to his family.