The Coilly Dart Theatre Group brought their musical about the life and works of Helen Carte with the Gilbert and Sullivan production company to the Edinburgh Fringe. Gilbert and Sullivan’s Improbable New Musical…Helen is a tribute to the work of an almost forgotten person in the famous musical franchise, who without her determination and business skills the company would have folded due to personality clashes.

The operetta is set in the afterlife. The famous group get together to socialise and reminisce together sharing their memories from when the company began up to the present day. As with all memories the accounts vary from person to person and at times, Helen steps in to remind them of certain facts, in a gentle way to defuse any major conflict escalating.

Helen’s vision for the company is explored through a chronological timeline of when the operas were written and staged. The history is fascinating and the explanation for each one describes how well it was received by the public and how long it ran for. Some were far more popular than others and rather than continuing Helen suggested finishing the run early and trying another one.

By the age of 30, Helen ran five Gilbert & Sullivan companies. From the Savoy in London to the Savoy Group in the United States.  Introducing copyrights for their work to stop the operas being used abroad without their permission. Her vision lives on today as copyrighted work is everywhere.

Helen’s negotiating skills were outstanding and she was the only one trusted by William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, to always have their best interests center of her work it was her business attitude that kept them all from breaking apart, which appeared to happen quite often. She was a natural negotiator.

The Coilly Dart Theatre Company has created a production that is a wonderful tribute to an immensely important yet often forgotten member of Gilbert and Sullivan operation.

For more information about the musical please visit the links below.

Four Stars

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/gilbert-and-sullivan-s-improbable-new-musical-and-helen

For more information about Gilbert and Sullivan’s Improbable New Musical… Helen please click on the links below.