Gilbert's Glory

In this series of programmes to mark the centenary of his death, the writer and poet Ruth Padel explores five aspects of Gilbert's work and evaluates his significance and his legacy. Key contributors include the director Mike Leigh whose movie 'Topsy-Turvy' depicts the relationship between Gilbert and Sullivan, as well as biographers, academics and performers such as Alistair McGowan who has performed and directed Gilbert and Sullivan operas and the singer Richard Suart who recently performed in 'The Mikado' at English National Opera.

Programme 1 examines Gilbert the man of contradictions. His photographs show a conventional-looking Victorian gentleman but was that completely true? Ruth explores the theory that underneath lay a desire to turn things topsy-turvy, which would provide him with a recurrent plot in his plays.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Ruth Padel explores five facets of writer WS Gilbert to mark the centenary of his death.

Ruth Padel explores writer WS Gilbert's work 100 years after his death

In this series of programmes to mark the centenary of his death, the writer and poet Ruth Padel explores five aspects of Gilbert's work and evaluates his significance and his legacy. Key contributors include the director Mike Leigh whose movie 'Topsy-Turvy' depicts the relationship between Gilbert and Sullivan, as well as biographers, academics and performers such as Alistair McGowan who has performed and directed Gilbert and Sullivan operas and the singer Richard Suart who recently performed in 'The Mikado' at English National Opera.

Programme 2 explores the way in which Gilbert used and developed the English language and investigates the way in which the word 'Gilbertian' has become synonymous with wit and brilliance. Examples range from his earliest comic verse to his later patter songs in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Ruth Padel explores the way in which WS Gilbert used and developed the English language.

Ruth Padel explores writer WS Gilbert's work 100 years after his death

In this series of programmes to mark the centenary of his death, the writer and poet Ruth Padel explores five aspects of Gilbert's work and evaluates his significance and his legacy. Key contributors include the director Mike Leigh whose movie 'Topsy-Turvy' depicts the relationship between Gilbert and Sullivan, as well as biographers, academics and performers such as Alistair McGowan who has performed and directed Gilbert and Sullivan operas and the singer Richard Suart who recently performed in 'The Mikado' at English National Opera.

Programme 3 explores Gilbert as a dramatist and satirist. We hear how he developed and parodied Victorian genres of burlesque and pantomime to create new comic effects and to mock institutions such as the House of Lords in 'Iolanthe'. But he also wrote several little-known 'problem' plays, depicting the double standards of the society in which he lived. Ruth Padel investigates how effective his satire was.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Ruth Padel explores WS Gilbert as a dramatist and satirist.

Ruth Padel explores writer WS Gilbert's work 100 years after his death

In this series of programmes to mark the centenary of his death, the writer and poet Ruth Padel explores five aspects of Gilbert's work and evaluates his significance and his legacy. Key contributors include the director Mike Leigh whose movie 'Topsy-Turvy' depicts the relationship between Gilbert and Sullivan, as well as biographers, academics and performers such as Alistair McGowan who has performed and directed Gilbert and Sullivan operas and the singer Richard Suart who recently performed in 'The Mikado' at English National Opera.

Programme 4 examines Gilbert's achievements as a theatre director and looks at the ways in which he helped revolutionise theatre production. He was part of a new movement to end the tradition of the actor-manager and put control of stagecraft into the hands of the director. He also displayed meticulous attention to detail as far as costumes and sets were concerned. We hear about the way he created miniature sets and plotted action using woodblocks - but how his cast of real characters didn't always respond as he would have liked.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Ruth Padel explores the ways in which WS Gilbert helped revolutionise theatre production.

Ruth Padel explores writer WS Gilbert's work 100 years after his death

In this series of programmes to mark the centenary of his death, the writer and poet Ruth Padel explores five aspects of Gilbert's work and evaluates his significance and his legacy. Key contributors include the director Mike Leigh whose movie 'Topsy-Turvy' depicts the relationship between Gilbert and Sullivan, as well as biographers, academics and performers such as Alistair McGowan who has performed and directed Gilbert and Sullivan operas and the singer Richard Suart who recently performed in 'The Mikado' at English National Opera.

Programme 5 examines Gilbert's relationship with the man with whom his legacy would be bound up - Arthur Sullivan. We hear the qualities that Gilbert brought to the partnership and how his work with Sullivan included not only the creation of the Savoy operas, but a constant monitoring of the finances of the business, which would eventually lead to the famous 'Carpet Quarrel'.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

Gilbert's relationship with Arthur Sullivan, with whom his legacy would be bound up.

Ruth Padel explores writer WS Gilbert's work 100 years after his death