About GLOC

History

The company was founded in September 1949 by John Wilmshurst, its purpose being to study and perform the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. Over the years it has become the leading amateur company in London for presenting the Savoy Operas and has staged all thirteen of them.

The name of the company derives from the original intention to rehearse and perform within the bounds of the Grosvenor Estate in Westminster as a focal point for members and audiences from Central London and the Home Counties. On its formation it adopted as its emblem the design on the title page. The few notes of music within its shield are taken from the score of The Sorcerer and contain the opening notes of the chorus “With heart and with voice” The phrase is echoed for more classically minded scholars in the scroll beneath the shield!

Since its formation the GLOC has staged over 60 performances of Gilbert and Sullivan Operas. It has developed close links with other operatic societies in the Greater London area as well as having sung with principals from both the old and the new D’Oyly Carte at various concerts and open-air performances in Holland Park and the Royal Albert and the Royal Festival Halls. During June 1997 the company were engaged by Carlton Television to provide the music and staging of Trial by Jury for an episode in a series of Kavannah Q.C.

On our website you will find links to information that will help you to join the society, buy tickets for our forthcoming shows and find out more about our past productions. If you have any difficulty finding what you want, please contact us and we will be in touch.