Interview: Sue Ellerby, Gilbert and Sullivan’s Improbable New Musical

Ahead of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024 we’re chatting with a range of creatives who will be heading to the city over August to find out more about their shows. Today we’re chatting with Sue Ellerby about Coily Dart Theatre’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Improbable New Musical.

Can you tell us a bit about you and your career so far..

I write and direct new shows for Coily Dart Theatre. We brought our first show to the Fringe in 2017 and this is our third production. I am a pianist and in the past have spent many years as both an accompanist for choirs and in the rehearsal room with musical theatre groups. I also love theatre and am a regular Fringe-goer. While at the Fringe in 2016 I took the risky decision to book a venue for Gilbert and Sullivan’s Improbable New Musical: The Fringe Lozenge - which at the time was still just an idea in my head. The Coily Dart Theatre Company was then created and since then we have aimed to present a Fringe show every couple of years. Lockdown impacted on this plan, though we remotely created an audio version of the show  for the Brighton Fringe.

What is your show about?

Gilbert and Sullivan’s Improbable New Musical: …and Helen  is a comedy musical based upon the little-told story of the life of Helen Carte. Helen was a Victorian businesswoman, instrumental to the success of Gilbert, Sullivan and D’Oyly Carte. Her contributions to their legacy, along with her innovations in the development of modern theatre, have long been overlooked. It’s a lighthearted show which uses Gilbert and Sullivan songs to parody their style - including mixed up babies, ridiculous plot twists, silly dances and an implausible happy ending.

What was the inspiration for …and Helen and what’s the development process been to get to this stage?

Although I have seen many G&S productions in the past, I hadn't realised how significant Helen's contribution was until fairly recently. I hope the show raises greater awareness of her remarkable life. This is the third new G&S parody we have brought to the Fringe. The first was Gilbert and Sullivan's Improbable New Musical: The Fringe Lozenge (the show G&S would have written if the Fringe had been around in their day) and the second was the more ambitious Gilbert and Sullivan's Improbable New Musical: Less Miserable (telling the Les Mis story using only G&S songs). This is our most challenging venture - aiming to entertain Fringe audiences with a comedy musical, while also highlighting and doing justice to Helen’s story. 

All the shows are new-writing. I usually have a few ideas which crystallise in August, when surrounded by creativity in Edinburgh. I then work with our Musical Director, Vicki Hing, who creates the piano and vocal score from the original compositions. The complexity of the plot and vocals has evolved with each production.  Our previous shows both proved popular and so we have increased the venue size each time (this year a 130 seater), to enable more people to see the performance. 

What made you want to take “…and Helen” to the Fringe?

The main reason we come to the Fringe is to have fun and entertain people - and where we know we will find a receptive audience for our new work. At the Fringe we can also reach a wide, international audience who may then want to perform the shows with their own groups. Further performance of the shows by others is something we actively want to encourage. Scripts and scores are published on Amazon for all our shows, which are also licensed. It has been encouraging to see that other G&S groups in the US and UK, when performing our shows, have sold out their venues.

Apart from seeing …and Helen what’s your top tip for anybody heading for Edinburgh this summer?

I’d encourage seeing at least one “pot-luck” show (eg the first person to give me a flyer today…). It may stretch your boundaries to see something you wouldn’t usually see,  inspiring more creativity.

Why should people book …and Helen?

This uplifting morning show will kick your day off to a joyful start - you’ll hear some beautiful music, hopefully have a laugh and may be inspired to learn more about the incredible life of Helen Carte. If you are keen to see the show then you may wish to book in advance, as both our previous shows sold out and had people waiting for returns.

When and where can people see …and Helen?

Venue: theSpace Triplex
Dates: 12-17 August 2024; Time: 09.45 (1hr15)
Ticket prices: £10 / concessions £8
Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com