Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | A Man Of Jollity | 20151221 | The story of the rise and fall of a collaboration between three men who dominated Victorian musical theatre and have left a lasting legacy. Everyone has heard of the immortal Gilbert and Sullivan, but who knows about the man who brought them success, George Grossmith, the original Modern Major General? Simon Butteriss and Robin Brooks' delightful comedy drama about the entertainer George Grossmith, who was plucked from his humble touring circuit to become the star of the Gilbert & Sullivan Savoy Operas, staying for twelve years. Grossmith was central to why Gilbert and Sullivan operas became so successful and continue to be so today. Simon Butteriss, who plays Grossmith, is best known as a performer in the Gilbert and Sullivan patter roles, which he continues to sing all over the world to a huge fan base. Robin Brooks' work for Radio 4 includes Ulysses, I Claudius, The Great Scott and Iris Murdoch: Dream Girl. His recent dramatisation of Iris Murdoch's The Sea, The Sea starring Jeremy Irons has been shortlisted for a BBC Audio Drama Award, 2016. Episode One: A Man of Jollity It's 1877 and Gilbert and Sullivan cast George Grossmith, a touring comedian, as the leading man in their new opera, The Sorcerer. But there's one problem. He's not a singer. Will the society clown hold his own among the divas and thereby change the face of musical theatre forever? Pianist: Gretel Dowdeswell Sound Designer: Alisdair McGregor Written by Simon Butteriss and Robin Brooks Directed by Simon Butteriss and Fiona McAlpine Produced by Fiona McAlpine An Allegra production for BBC Radio 4. It is 1877, and Gilbert and Sullivan cast comedian George Grossmith in their new opera. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
| 02 | Ruler Of The Queen's Navee | 20151222 | The story of the rise and fall of a collaboration between three men who dominated Victorian musical theatre and have left a lasting legacy. Everyone has heard of the immortal Gilbert and Sullivan, but who knows about the man who brought them success, George Grossmith, the original Modern Major General? Simon Butteriss and Robin Brooks' delightful comedy drama about the entertainer George Grossmith, who was plucked from his humble touring circuit to become the star of the Gilbert & Sullivan Savoy Operas, staying for twelve years. Grossmith was central to why Gilbert and Sullivan operas became so successful and continue to be so today. Simon Butteriss, who plays Grossmith, is best known as a performer in the Gilbert and Sullivan patter roles, which he continues to sing all over the world to a huge fan base. Robin Brooks' work for Radio 4 includes Ulysses, I Claudius, The Great Scott and Iris Murdoch: Dream Girl. His recent dramatisation of Iris Murdoch's The Sea, The Sea starring Jeremy Irons has been shortlisted for a BBC Audio Drama Award, 2016. Episode Two: Ruler of the Queen's Navee It's 1878. HMS Pinafore looks set to fail in a London heatwave, and Gilbert blames the disaster on Grossmith's vulgar performance. Can Grossmith save his career along with the sinking ship, and will Gilbert realise he's created a star, not a monster? Pianist: Gretel Dowdeswell Sound Designer: Alisdair McGregor Written by Simon Butteriss and Robin Brooks Directed by Simon Butteriss and Fiona McAlpine Produced by Fiona McAlpine An Allegra production for BBC Radio 4. 1878. HMS Pinafore looks set to fail in a London heatwave. Can Grossmith save the day? Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
| 03 | A Disagreeable Man | 20151223 | The story of the rise and fall of a collaboration between three men who dominated Victorian musical theatre and have left a lasting legacy. Everyone has heard of the immortal Gilbert and Sullivan, but who knows about the man who brought them success, George Grossmith, the original Modern Major General? Simon Butteriss and Robin Brooks' delightful comedy drama about the entertainer George Grossmith, who was plucked from his humble touring circuit to become the star of the Gilbert & Sullivan Savoy Operas, staying for twelve years. Grossmith was central to why Gilbert and Sullivan operas became so successful and continue to be so today. Simon Butteriss, who plays Grossmith, is best known as a performer in the Gilbert and Sullivan patter roles, which he continues to sing all over the world to a huge fan base. Robin Brooks' work for Radio 4 includes Ulysses, I Claudius, The Great Scott and Iris Murdoch: Dream Girl. His recent dramatisation of Iris Murdoch's The Sea, The Sea starring Jeremy Irons has been shortlisted for a BBC Audio Drama Award, 2016. Episode Three: A Disagreeable Man 1 It's 1884 and after great success with The Pirates of Penzance, Gilbert and Sullivan move their operas to their very own Savoy Theatre. But after the successful runs of Patience and Iolanthe, the third opera, Princess Ida, fails to catch fire and tempers fray. Pianist: Gretel Dowdeswell Sound Designer: Alisdair McGregor Written by Simon Butteriss and Robin Brooks Directed by Simon Butteriss and Fiona McAlpine Produced by Fiona McAlpine An Allegra production for BBC Radio 4. 1884. After a successful run of operas, tempers fray when Princess Ida fails to catch fire Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
| 04 | A Savoy Cocktail | 20151224 | The story of the rise and fall of a collaboration between three men who dominated Victorian musical theatre and have left a lasting legacy. Everyone has heard of the immortal Gilbert and Sullivan, but who knows about the man who brought them success, George Grossmith, the original Modern Major General? Simon Butteriss and Robin Brooks' delightful comedy drama about the entertainer George Grossmith, who was plucked from his humble touring circuit to become the star of the Gilbert & Sullivan Savoy Operas, staying for twelve years. Grossmith was central to why Gilbert and Sullivan operas became so successful and continue to be so today. Simon Butteriss, who plays Grossmith, is best known as a performer in the Gilbert and Sullivan patter roles, which he continues to sing all over the world to a huge fan base. Robin Brooks' work for Radio 4 includes Ulysses, I Claudius, The Great Scott and Iris Murdoch: Dream Girl. His recent dramatisation of Iris Murdoch's The Sea, The Sea starring Jeremy Irons has been shortlisted for a BBC Audio Drama Award, 2016. Episode Four. A Savoy Cocktail It's 1885 and Grossmith is now the toast of the Savoy Opera, with a starring role as Ko-Ko in The Mikado - but his nerves and Gilbert's demands threaten to get the better of him. Will the clash of egos and a dose of laudanum wreck the show? Pianist: Gretel Dowdeswell Sound Designer: Alisdair McGregor Written by Simon Butteriss and Robin Brooks Directed by Simon Butteriss and Fiona McAlpine Produced by Fiona McAlpine An Allegra production for BBC Radio 4. It is 1885, and Grossmith is now the toast of the Savoy Opera. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
| 05 | Piano And I | 20151225 | The story of the rise and fall of a collaboration between three men who dominated Victorian musical theatre and have left a lasting legacy. Everyone has heard of the immortal Gilbert and Sullivan, but who knows about the man who brought them success, George Grossmith, the original Modern Major General? Simon Butteriss and Robin Brooks' delightful comedy drama about the entertainer George Grossmith, who was plucked from his humble touring circuit to become the star of the Gilbert & Sullivan Savoy Operas, staying for twelve years. Grossmith was central to why Gilbert and Sullivan operas became so successful and continue to be so today. Simon Butteriss, who plays Grossmith, is best known as a performer in the Gilbert and Sullivan patter roles, which he continues to sing all over the world to a huge fan base. Robin Brooks' work for Radio 4 includes Ulysses, I Claudius, The Great Scott and Iris Murdoch: Dream Girl. His recent dramatisation of Iris Murdoch's The Sea, The Sea starring Jeremy Irons has been shortlisted for a BBC Audio Drama Award, 2016. Episode Five: Piano and I It's 1889 and, after twelve years at the Savoy Opera, Grossmith decides to go solo. Gilbert and Sullivan lose their golden goose. While he flies, they struggle to replace him. Will there be a re-union? And if so, will they all be able to bear it? Pianist: Gretel Dowdeswell Sound Designer: Alisdair McGregor Written by Simon Butteriss and Robin Brooks Directed by Simon Butteriss and Fiona McAlpine Produced by Fiona McAlpine An Allegra production for BBC Radio 4. It is 1889, and after 12 years at the Savoy Opera, Grossmith decides to go solo. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |