
The Mikado

The original manuscript for THE MIKADO resides at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
We have arranged access for 30 people for a Private Viewing of the manuscript during a three day Event in London from 4 - 7 June 2025.
We’ll meet on Wednesday 4 June 2025 at The Savoy Hotel, which was
largely built out of the profits of THE MIKADO performances at The Savoy Theatre next door.
Then on Thursday 5 June 2025, we’ll take a private boat trip down the Thames to D'Oyly Carte Island, a small private island on the reach above Sunbury Lock, 200 metres downstream from Shepperton. Before 1890 the island was known as Folly Eyot.
Richard D’Oyly Carte acquired the island in about 1890 and built the 13-bedroom Eyot House on the property, which was completed in 1898.
The island was purchased in 2021 by the current owner, Andy Hill.
We’ll then take in a performance of THE MIKADO by Opera della Luna at the oldest Great Music Hall in the world, Wilton’s in the East End.
On Friday 6 June 2025, we’ll have our Private Viewing of the manuscript before going to the Opera della Luna performance for a second time. Having seen the manuscript, the performance will mean so much more the second time around.
Throughout the event, we are honoured to have the presence of Colin Jagger to give us background to the opera and we’ll enjoy lectures by prominent G&S scholars and performers too. See FAQ’s below for Colin’s biography.
We are also delighted to be working with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society and they can be found here
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THE SCHEDULE
Wednesday 4 June 2025
All day Check-in at The Savoy Hotel from 12 noon
14:00 - START of Event and Welcome Ceremony
14:30 - Lecture - History and Tour of The Savoy Theatre and The Savoy Hotel
16:00 - The Mikado Lecture by Colin Jagger
19:00 - Dinner at The Savoy Hotel with Morten Solvik, Colin Jagger and Marina Mahler as Guests of Honour
Overnight at The Savoy Hotel
Thursday 5 June 2025
From 07:00 Breakfast
10:00 - Leave by private Water Taxi from Wood Quay on Thames for EYOT HOUSE on D'Oyly Carte Island
11:00 - Arrive at Island
11:30 - Tour of Eyot House and the Melvin Tarran Collection
12:30 - Lecture - Gilbert & Sullivan and Eyot House
13:30 - Lunch at Eyot House
14:30 - A few baritone arias from Mikado with Arthur Sullivan's piano
15:30 - River boat back to The Savoy Hotel
16:30 - Arrive Wood Quay and Savoy Hotel
19:00 - Performance of THE MIKADO by Opera della Luna at Wilton's Hall
Overnight at The Savoy Hotel
Friday 6 June 2025
From 07:00 Breakfast
9:00 - Arrive at Royal Academy of Music
9:30 - "Performing The Mikado" - talk by Jeff Clark, Director of Opera della Luna
11:00 - OMS Lecture: "The Mikado Effect" by a G&S specialist
12:00 - Private viewing of Original Manuscript of THE MIKADO
14:00 - Lunch with the Sullivan Society
15:00 - Free time in London
19:00 - Performance of THE MIKADO by Opera della Luna at Wilton's Hall
Overnight at The Savoy Hotel
Saturday 7 June 2025
From 07:00 Breakfast
10:00 - Our next Meeting and group picture
10:30 - Networking
11:30 - END OF EVENT
Please note: this schedule is subject to change at short notice
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Only 30 people from around the world can join us for this 3 night Event in London in June 2025 and registration is now open.
The cost of the Event and a double/twin room in The Savoy Hotel is £5,975 per person.
The cost of the Event and a single room in The Savoy Hotel is £6,975.
VAT at 20% will be added to the cost for all Guests.
Donations will be made to assist with the preservation and appreciation of the music
of Sullivan and words of Gilbert for future generations.
No need to pay now - just register your interest in joining us here:
mark@originalmanuscriptsociety.com
We shall ask for full payment when we have 21 people keen to join us.
We have 5 people keen to join us as at 09:00 UK time on 2 April 2025.
We are unable to accept bookings for less than the entire three nights.
Please see the FAQ’s below.
To reserve your place, please email mark@originalmanuscriptsociety.com
FAQ’s
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Colin Jagger (b.1967) is the editor of the new edition of “The Yeomen of the Guard” by Gilbert and Sullivan and the Librarian/Archivist at the Sullivan Society. Colin studied music at Manchester University and then at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he received a Master's degree in orchestral conducting. He subsequently worked as Assistant Conductor to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra before gaining a permanent position as the Director of Orchestral Activities at Albion College, Michigan. He became Director of Music at Portsmouth University in the UK from 2000 where his duties include conducting the university ensembles and contributing to the teaching of a degree in Musical Theatre. He is active as a scholar with a particular interest in critical editing of late nineteenth century music for the stage. He has regular guest-conducting engagements with orchestras in the UK and abroad.
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The cost is all inclusive and includes:
The Event starts at 14:00 on Wednesday 4 June 2025 at the Hotel, so please make your own way there. All transportation from the start of the Event to the end at 11:30 on Sunday 8 June 2025 is provided.
Accommodation for the three nights the Savoy Hotel or equivalent (see Hotel section in Terms and Conditions below).
All food and drink on the trip (a generous amount of wine and alcoholic/soft drinks will be served at lunch and dinner – any drinks required other than at meal times are at your own expense).
Lectures.
The presence of any Speakers, Colin Jennings, Morten Solvik, Marina Mahler and Mark Strachan.
All guides and tickets to venues, including the Royal Academy of Music, boat tickets, access to Eyot House and opera performances etc.
The Private Viewing of the original manuscripts at the Royal Academy of Music
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No need to pay now.
When we reach 21 people who would like to come, we shall ask for 100% of the total payment to be paid by electronic transfer to our UK bank account to confirm your place(s). Please email mark@originalmanuscriptsociety.com for the bank details for UK and International payments.
The total payment per person sharing a double/twin room is £7,170 (£5,975 plus £1,195 VAT).
The total payment for a person coming on their own and wishing to have a single room is £8,370 (£6,975 plus £1,395 VAT).
We shall email you an invoice.
Full terms and conditions are available in these FAQ’s.
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Your travel to and from the Event is not included.
Please make your own way to the Hotel for the start of the Event at 14:00 on Wednesday 4 June 2025 and back home again after the Event has ended (we shall make suggestions to you if you wish to stay in London or elsewhere after the Event has finished).
We shall give you detailed instructions how to get to the Hotel by car/train/taxi etc.
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The preferred Hotel is The Savoy Hotel on the Strand in London. Rooms have been reserved there.
Check-in time at the Savoy is from 14:00 on Wednesday 4 June 2025. Guests who arrive before this can store their luggage and use the hotel’s facilities until the room is ready. We shall request from the Savoy that you room is ready when you require it, yet this cannot be guaranteed. Guests will be asked for photo ID and a credit card at check-in and anything bought/ordered which is not included in the Event (examples include all room service, laundry, drinks, food and any minibar items outside meal times) must be paid for by the Guest at check-out, which is at 12 noon on the day of departure.
If it is no longer possible to stay at the Savoy, for whatever reason, we shall find an equivalent 5* Hotel.
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The preferred Hotel is The Savoy Hotel on the Strand in London. Rooms have been reserved there.
Check-in time at the Savoy is from 14:00 on Wednesday 4 June 2025. Guests who arrive before this can store their luggage and use the hotel’s facilities until the room is ready. We shall request from the Savoy that you room is ready when you require it, yet this cannot be guaranteed. Guests will be asked for photo ID and a credit card at check-in and anything bought/ordered which is not included in the Event (examples include all room service, laundry, drinks, food and any minibar items outside meal times) must be paid for by the Guest at check-out, which is at 12 noon on the day of departure.
If it is no longer possible to stay at the Savoy, for whatever reason, we shall find an equivalent 5* Hotel.
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Yes. You will see the menus well in advance to make your choices.
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We are visiting several old properties and they may not have step-free access. We shall visit each location before 28 February 2025 to create a risk assessment for each location and will report to each Guest(s) by email. At the time of writing, we cannot be sure that any or all locations will have step-free access.
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At the time of writing, we intend to take in two performances for THE MIKADO at Wilton’s in East London performed by Opera Della Luna. If this is sold out, we shall make alternative arrangements, which may include a private performance of the work with either piano or small ensemble.
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The Original Manuscript Society (OMS) is operated and run by OMS Events Limited; a UK limited company number 15645061 and VAT Number 479 5753 27.
The OMS will put on this Event as advertised on the website www.originalmanuscriptsociety.com from time to time. It mentions on the website that the schedule may change.
Payment.
Once 21 people have registered interest to join the Event, OMS requires 100% of the total charge as advertised on the website www.originalmanuscriptsociety.com to enable all the arrangements for the Event to be made. An invoice will be sent. PLEASE NOTE THAT NO REFUND WILL BE MADE IN THE EVENT THAT YOU DECIDE NOT TO ATTEND. All bookings will be for the full three nights, covering four separate days, from the START of the Event at 14:00 UK time on Wednesday 4 June 2025 to the END of the Event at 11:30 local time on Saturday 7 June 2025. We cannot accept bookings for less than the full three-day Event.Cancellation by OMS.
If OMS cancels the entire Event of its own volition, a full refund of all monies will be made. PLEASE NOTE: there will be no refund due from cancellation at any time due to sickness, disease, significant transportation issues, closure of any visitor attractions, civil unrest, bad weather or any last minute changes to the schedule or any event outside the control of OMS. Guests are strongly encouraged to take out their own travel insurance cover. Please take the time to digest the implication of this clause.UK Sales Tax.
There is 20% VAT to pay which we shall pass on to the UK Government.What is included.
The cost includes:· All transportation from the START of the Event to the END of the Event.
· Accommodation for the three nights.
· All food and drink on the trip (a generous amount of alcohol/soft drinks will be served at the lunch and dinner restaurants – any drinks required other than at meal times are at the guest’s own expense). Restaurant menus will be circulated in advance and dietary requirements will be catered for. We shall not accept any liability of the effect of any food allergies being contravened. It is the responsibility of the Guest(s) to check that all food is suitable to be consumed.
· All Lectures.
· All lectures and readings.
· All guides and tickets to venues whilst in London, to include two performances of THE MIKADO at Wilton’s. Alternative arrangements will be made if Wilton’s is sold out.
· The Private Viewing of the original manuscript.
Hotel.
OMS will provide all hotel accommodation to include breakfast. The Hotel in London will be The Savoy or a 5* equivalent. Rooms offered are a double room for two people or a single room for one person. Single rooms carry a single room supplement (see the section “Why is the Single Room more expensive” in these FAQ’s). Single room Guests must pay the deposit for a single room and they can indicate when booking whether they are willing to share with another person. If this is all acceptable to both parties, an adjustment will be made for the final payment. Guests may stay at alternative accommodation, yet no refund will be made for those wishing to stay anywhere other than our recommended accommodation. For the avoidance of doubt, Guests will have to pay extra for any accommodation other than that offered by OMS for the Event. Upon arrival at the Hotel, Guests will be asked for a Photo ID and a credit card at check-in and anything bought/ordered outside what is included in the Event (examples include all room service, laundry, drinks, food and any minibar items outside meal times) must be paid for by the Guest(s) personally at check-out.Transport.
Guest(s) are provided with luxury transport from the start of the Event at 14:00 on Wednesday 4 June 2025 to the end of the Event at 11:30 on Saturday 7 June 2025. If Guest(s) decide to take alternative transport at any time during the Event, this must be paid for separately and we shall not change or amend the schedule to take into account any delays etc experienced by this alternative transport. This is important. We cannot delay the Event for everyone else if you experience delays by choosing separate transportation. You will be referred to this clause if this occurs. No refund will be made for the use of alternative transportation nor for any part of the Event missed by the choice of alternative transport. In particular, if the choice of separate transport results in missing the private viewing of the original manuscript, no refund of any sort can be made.Drink.
Ample alcoholic and soft drinks at meal times are included in the cost of the Event. Any drinks outside the serving of meals should be purchased by the Guest(s) separately. No alcohol will be served at breakfast and Guest(s) must accept what is offered for them at all restaurants/hotel.Behaviour.
OMS expects our valued Guests to treat each other, OMS staff and anyone they meet during the Event, with respect and kindness. Any behaviour by a Guest(s) which the OMS staff in their absolute discretion regard as unacceptable may result in that Guest(s) being asked to leave the Event with immediate effect. Please take note of this clause.Step-free access.
We cannot guarantee that any of the venues we visit have step-free access. We shall perform reasonable endeavours to check each venue before the Event starts.Dated: 31 March 2025