Christchurch Gilbert and Sullivan Society
	A Brief History of the Society

Christchurch G & S was formed in the Spring of 1984 by Nigel Finch with a plan to perform at the newly opened Regent Centre in Christchurch in the September of that year. The production chosen was Iolanthe. It was a simple beginning with the set for Act One acquired from the Forestry Commission - six fir trees ranging from 4 to 8 feet tall. However the show was a sufficient success to enable thoughts to go towards choosing a show for 1985 - The Mikado. Being more well known than Iolanthe it had a much larger audience and really placed Christchurch G & S on the amateur Musical Society Map. Since then we have performed all but two of the operettas.

We have our own team of set builders who each year strive for bigger and better things. In the past we have had a real working fountain, we flew Katisha out in a balloon in The Mikado, and hopefully this year will prove no exception.

The Company is approximately 40 strong and has performed every September since 1984. For our Millenium project we tackled the "original" G &&nbspS Thespis; a UK premiere of this version.

Click here for a complete list of the shows performed by Christchurch G &&nbspS Society since 1984.

Producer & Musical Director	Nigel Finch
	Nigel has been interested in music from an early age. He first joined the choir of Christchurch Priory when he was eight years old and in the same year began piano lessons at school. Singing in the choir under Geoffrey Tristram, the then organist and choirmaster, led to his interest in the organ as a natural progression from the piano. Nigel stayed in the choir for nearly eight years until his voice began to break when he was asked to become organist and choirmaster at St George's Church, Jumpers, a post he held with breaks whilst at university for the next ten years. This post gave him valuable experience in being responsible for teaching music to "non musicians". A four-year university career at Exeter studying mathematics led to many opportunities to take part in extra-curricular music activities. Among these he appeared in two Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, and directed the University Chapel Choir for two years, later becoming organist at St Luke's College in his fourth and final year. On leaving university, having directed the music for productions of "Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "Jesus Christ Superstar", he formed Christchurch Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and coincidental with the re-opening of the Regent Centre in Christchurch produced and Directed "Iolanthe" in 1984.
A change of career from teacher took him to the Staines area where he now lives, and works in West Drayton at the London Air Traffic Control Centre as an area radar controller. In turn this led to further opportunities musically, being appointed musical director for Hatton Musical Society, firstly for "Fiddler on the Roof" and then "H.M.S. Pinafore". Although now 100 miles away Nigel continue to direct and produce for Christchurch G &&nbspS and also conduct for Milton Musical Society, a company which he had been involved with for many years by then. Over the years for various companies, Nigel has directed the music for over 30 different musicals and has produced all seventeen major productions for Christchurch Gilbert and Sullivan Society. He currently play the organ at St. Mark's Wyke, a small church just outside Guildford, and also works in a duo - 'Entertainment Express' giving concerts to the elderly, with his wife Janet, who, having graduated from the Royal Academy of Music is pursuing a career as a professional musician.
Rehearsal Accompanist	Janet Finch
	Music and musical instruments have always fascinated Janet and it is no great surprise that she is now a professional musician. Janet graduated from the Royal Academy of Music having studied Free Bass Accordion and Piano. As a professional musician she has performed on television and Radio. Over the last few years she has played in many parts of the UK and abroad including several cruises aboard The Caronia and her sister ship the QE2. She accompanies many opera singers, and entertains for the “Not-Forgotten” Association, Music in Hospitals and is resident accordionist in the French restaurant at Center Parcs, Longleat. She also has her own highly successful tour of infant schools presenting a programme including all nine instruments she plays to the children. She enjoys playing for Christchurch Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and is pleased that she can also play in the orchestra. Janet is married to Nigel, and therefore G & S has now become an integral part of her life.

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