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​2026 Show - Double Bill: Trial by Jury & The Savoyards

Trial by Jury Gilbert & Sullivan’s 2nd opera, Trial by Jury, serves up a cheeky one-act operetta that pokes fun at the British legal system like no courtroom ever has. When Angelina sues her ex-fiancé Edwin for ditching her at the altar, chaos ensues with eccentric judges, fickle jurors, and a trial that’s more farce than fact. Expect witty tunes, sharp satire, and a verdict that’ll have you chuckling all the way to “guilty of hilarity”! 

The Savoyards; Not Another G&S  is a clever pastiche that weaves together the beloved music of Sullivan and Gilbert's vibrant characters from nine of the fourteen classic Gilbert & Sullivan operas. Created by Dawn Pugh and Nicole Taylor, this fresh, two-act operetta, offers a playful homage infused with sharp satire and an irresistible new storyline. It explores the delightfully tangled secrets and eccentric desires of a troupe of thespians, lovingly capturing the spirit and mischief of the Savoy tradition. 
Don’t miss this double bill offering something old & something new...and lots of fun and delightful music!

Cast & Production Team

Trial by Jury Characters

The Learned Judge
The Plaintiff
The Defendant
Counsel for the Plaintiff
Usher
Foreman of the Jury
Associate
First Bridesmaid
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The Savoyards Characters

Dr M. Margaret
Pirate King
Bunthorne
Ida
Mabel
Rose
Katisha
Director
Asst. Director
Bridesmaid
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The GSOS Production Team

Elizabeth Lowrencev, Stage Director & Choreographer

Elizabeth began her association with Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas with a school production of HMS Pinafore. Elizabeth began directing and choreographing in 1994, with The Sorcerer for Loyola Musical Society, and continued with Patience, My Fair Lady, and Oklahoma! She directed and choreographed The Gondoliers for Savoy Opera Company (Victoria) in 1998 at The National Theatre. With Inter’acte Theatre Co Elizabeth directed The Importance of Being Earnest, as with Leo9 Theatre Co. Elizabeth directed and choreographed Strathfield Musical Society’s 2012 production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. With GSOS Elizabeth has directed The Gondoliers, The Mikado, Princess Ida, HMS Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance & The Sorcerer. Elizabeth has been writing, devising and directing plays since 1993 with ‘Drama with a Difference’ and ‘Kids up Front Drama Academy’. In 2003 she choreographed for the Schools Spectacular, performed at Sydney Opera House.

Rod Mounjed, Musical Director

Rod has been Musical Directing since 1985, when he first designed the music for the play Cloud Nine at the Seymour Centre. Recent Musical Design in 2002-4 has included The Importance of Being Earnest, A Midsummer Nights Dream (Shakespeare by the Sea). Since 2000 Rod has worked as a conductor with Symphony Australia’s conducting program and has worked interstate with different ensembles and orchestras from each of the major symphony orchestras around Australia, specialising in the works of Stravinsky, Mendelssohn, Britten, Mozart, Bizet, Grieg and Beethoven.

Rod has worked with the Savoy Arts Company (now G&S Opera Sydney) since 1991 (Iolanthe, Princess Ida (twice) Pirates of Penzance, Yeoman of the Guard). He is the resident Musical Director for G & S Opera Sydney Company and produced HMS Pinafore (2014), The Gondoliers (2015), Patience (2016), The Pirates of Penzance (2017), Ruddigore (2018), The Mikado (2019), Pirates of Penzance (2022), HMS Pinafore (2024), The Sorcerer (2025). His next production in 2026 for this company will be Trial by Jury & The Savoyards.

With Regals Musical Society has conducted Broadway Pirates of Penzance, Pippin, Oklahoma, Chess, Annie, Me & My Girl. His two shows with the Rockdale Musical Society have been Anything Goes and Mame. He has conducted Ruddigore for Rockdale Opera in 2010, and was the musical director for the Palm Court Orchestra for the 70th Gala Concert for Rockdale Opera in 2018, and conducted HMS Pinafore in 2020. 

For the past three decades he has been the resident Musical Director at Lugar Brae Players and has participated in HMS Pinafore, The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, South Pacific, Oklahoma, The Music Man, My Fair Lady, Me & My Girl, The Pajama Game, Guys and Dolls, Oliver, Annie Get Your Gun, Sound of Music. He volunteered to help conduct Yeoman of the Guard and Iolanthe for the G & S Singfest (Glen Street Theatre and Zenith Theatre).

As a pianist he has recorded for SMP classics, works by Mendelssohn (Songs without Words), Beethoven (Late Piano Sonatas Op.109, 110 & 111), and “An Evening with G & S” for violin and piano.

Dawn Pugh, Assistant Director & Production Manager

Dawn is the Assistant Director, Production Manager & Scenic Artist in this year’s production of Trial by Jury & The Savoyards. She is also G&S Opera Sydney’s President.

Dawn has a long history in film, television, musical theatre and opera. She has worked behind the scenes as a director, stage manager, set designer & costumier, and on stage & screen as an actor and performer. Dawn has also dedicated a large portion of her career to mentoring and education in creative industries.

Musical Theatre productions that Dawn has been involved with include:
Wizard of Oz (Strathfield Musical Society), Phantom of the Opera (Strathfield Musical Society), The Snow Queen (LCTC), Jungle Book (LCTC), Beauty & the Beast (LCTC), Seussical Jr (LCTC), Hot Shoe Shuffle (Birdie Productions), The Dancing Man (Birdie), Keating (Birdie), Next to Normal (LCTC), Stoops to Conquer (LCTC), Holding the Man (LCTC), Cosi (LCTC), The Fabulous Punch & Judy Show (independent).

Opera productions (working off-stage for all and performing on stage for all but Pinafore & Pirates 2022) include: HMS Pinafore (GSOS), Gondoliers (GSOS), Patience (GSOS), Pirates of Penzance (GSOS) 2017 & 2022, The Ghosts of Ruddigore (GSOS), Mikado (GSOS) & The Sorcerer.

TV Productions include: principal guest speaker 3 x episodes of Fox8’s Save Point
and principal guest speaker 2x episodes of EB Games Fox8 series, and several US
TV mini-series (pre-1994) doing sourcing and extras work.

Film Productions include: Forest Gump (prop making and sourcing), Prince of Tides (sourcing), Oscar & Lucinda (props), plus various extras work.
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Dawn currently works as a brand strategist and entrepreneur and owns several companies in allied health, learn to swim, photography and apparel. ​

Sandi Tutt, Costumier

​Sandi grew up sewing with her sister, mother and grandmother (who was a milliner). She has been making costumes since 1996 and has worked with several societies in Sydney. She first worked with Savoy Arts Company (G&S Opera Sydney’s original name) doing the Gondoliers in 2007 and has done most of the shows for GSOS since then.