Alistair McGowan, Jo Brand and Nichola McAuliffe will guest star in a five-week season of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas at the Gielgud from 30 January-1 March, presented by the Carl Rosa Opera Company.
McGowan takes the title role with McAuliffe as Katisha in The Mikado, the first production of the season, which plays from 30 January-9 February. This is followed by Iolanthe (11-16 February) and The Pirates Of Penzance (18 February-1 March) in which Brand plays the Sergeant of police.
Comic actor McGowan has enjoyed a period of stage work recently that includes the musicals Little Shop Of Horrors in the West End and The Merry Wives Of Windsor with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford. His television credits include Alistair McGowan’s Big Impression, Bleak House and Mayo.
McAuliffe’s extensive London theatre credits include Kiss Me Kate (for which she won a Laurence Olivier Award in 1987), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Murderous Instincts and The Night Of The Iguana. On television she has been seen in Surgical Spirit and Coronation Street.
Brand is a stand-up comedian and television personality who has appeared on shows including Have I Got News For You, Countdown, QI and Comic Relief Does Fame Academy. In November she presents an evening of comedy at Hackney Empire.
The Carl Rosa Opera Company is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary. The company for this season at the Gielgud includes Eric Roberts, Bruce Graham, Steven Page, Charlotte Page, Lesley Cox, Sophie-Louise Dann, Barry Clark, Donald Maxwell, Gareth Jones, Karl Daymond, Victoria Ward, Michael Kerry, Beverley Klein and Deborah Myers.
CB