Join Captain Corcoran and his daughter Josephine as she faces a battle between duty and love on the high seas. While her father makes plans for her to tie the knot with the suitably ranked First Lord of the Admiralty, Josephine has romantic ideas of her own. And after falling for lowly deckhand Ralph, the loved-up pair make plans to elope. That is, until a surprise revelation rocks the boat.

HMS Pinafore

London Coliseum

Ahoy mateys! Get ready for opera on the high seas with Gilbert and Sullivan's popular piratical comedy. The story begins as young Frederic is due to be released from his accidental apprenticeship to a band of pirates; he dreams of living an honorable life dedicated to love. However, a leap year loophole puts his freedom on the line. When the very modern Major-General's doting daughters arrive, hearts are promised, vows are made, and eventually pirates are pardoned in this light-hearted comedy.

EPSG:4326

The Pirates of Penzance

Seattle Center

With a comic cast performing contrasting roles in both pieces, Trial by Jury / A Matter of Misconduct!  promises an unmissable night of classic G&S comedy and new writing.

Trial by Jury - Scottish Opera

Festival Theatre Edinburgh

The Canton Symphony Orchestra Chorus presents Come to the Water—a program exploring the themes of water as refuge, struggle, and renewal. Through readings and choral works by John Rutter, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Moses Hogan, Daniel E. Gawthrop, and others, the concert moves from the meditative to the joyful.

CSO Chorus in Concert

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, OH

First performed in 1875, this is the first major hit from the partnership of WS Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Set around a classic case of broken vows - the defendant having literally left the claimant at the altar - the trial bubbles over with emotion, humour, and downright chaos, leaving the jury divided. How will they decide between the charming yet swindling defendant and the utterly captivating claimant? 

Trial by Jury

Theatre Royal Glasgow

Tchaikovsky to Broadway and Film

Palos Verdes Performing Arts Center

MSM Opera Theatre: Princess Ida: The Glow Up

The Riverside Church

This is a junior duet recital that will include various works in English, German, French and Italian from composers such as Margaret Bonds, Francesco Paolo Tosti, Franz Schubert and many more!

Student Degree Recital: Nicholas Mathew and Mark Turner B.M. voice junior recital

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

Pirates of Penzance

Idaho Falls High School

### Event Description: The Pirates of Penzance at Roundabout Theatre Company

**Event Title:** The Pirates of Penzance

**Dates:** April 4 - June 22, 2025

**Venue:** Todd Haimes Theatre, 227 West 42nd Street, New York, NY (between 7th and 8th Avenues)

**Overview:**
Roundabout Theatre Company presents a must-see reimagining of Gilbert & Sullivan’s classic operetta, "The Pirates of Penzance." This new adaptation, set in New Orleans, infuses the beloved tale with jazzy-bluesy rhythms and French Quarter flair, promising a unique and entertaining experience for both first-timers and G&S aficionados.

**Creative Team:**
- **Director:** Scott Ellis (Doubt, Kiss Me, Kate)
- **Choreographer:** Warren Carlyle (Harmony, Kiss Me, Kate)
- **Adaptation:** Rupert Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood)
- **Music Direction:** Joseph Joubert (Caroline, or Change)
- **Orchestrations:** Joseph Joubert and Daryl Waters (Memphis)

**Cast:**
- **Pirate King:** Ramin Karimloo
- **Major General:** David Hyde Pierce

**Production Highlights:**
- A hilarious new adaptation by Rupert Holmes.
- Musical direction by Joseph Joubert with orchestrations by Joubert and Daryl Waters.
- A vibrant setting in New Orleans, featuring Caribbean rhythms and French Quarter flair.
- A cast of colorful characters including the tongue-twisting Major-General, the rabble-rousing Pirate King, newly-imagined young lovers, daring daughters, footloose pirates, and fleet-footed police.

**Special Notes:**
- Tickets will go on sale to the general public at a later date. Subscribers and donors get first access to tickets and other special benefits.
- Additional cast and creative team members will be announced at a later date.
- Underwriting support for "The Pirates of Penzance" is generously provided by Salman and Vienn Al-Rashid.
- The production benefits from Roundabout’s Musical Production Fund with lead gifts from the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Michael Kors and Lance Le Pere, Diane and Tom Tuft, and Cynthia C. Wainwright and Stephen Berger.

**Stay Updated:**
Sign up to get exclusive offers and to be notified when tickets go on sale.

**Contact and Social Media:**
- **Facebook**
- **X (formerly Twitter)**
- **Instagram**
- **YouTube**
- **TikTok**
- **Threads**

For more information, visit the Roundabout Theatre Company’s website or follow them on social media.

Todd Haimes Theatre

Hurrah for The Pirate King! Gilbert and Sullivan’s uproariously silly operetta The Pirates of Penzance storms the stage of His Majesty’s Theatre for a romp across the high seas and to the Motherland.

Bursting with much-loved music, the score will leave you grinning with classics including ‘I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General’, ‘Poor Wandering One’ and ‘I am the Pirate King’.

His Majesty's Theatre

A Gilbert and Sullivan Opera also known as The Merryman and His Maid, is the 11th collaboration of fourteen between Gilbert and Sullivan. Set in the Tower of London during the 16th century it is perhaps the most emotionally engaging of the duo’s works. The libretto does contain considerable humor, including a lot of pun-laden one-liners. Critics consider the score to be Sullivan’s finest.

Show-Me Opera - Yeomen of the Guard (MT)

Missouri Theatre

Orchestra Nova is proud to present our first concert for 2025, Symphonic Tales of Heroes and Legends. Join us at 2pm on Sunday, March 16th at the Warners Bay Theatre for an exciting lineup of iconic themes.

Symphonic Tales of Heroes & Legends

Warners Bay Theatre

Celebration! Retrospect

Lake Washington High School

Journey to Venice and the island of Barataria, where two gondoliers discover they might be royalty. With infectious melodies, witty dialogue, and a whimsical plot, this enchanting performance promises an evening of laughter and joy. Don’t miss it!

Toronto Operetta Theatre: The Gondoliers

St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts

Hayes Artistic Directors Richard Carroll and Victoria Falconer harness the irreverent, genre-busting spirit of a sprawling, satirical, musical masterwork, and bring it to raucous new life for a 21st-century audience. This brand-new, boisterously joyful adaptation is brought to life by just four bold performers (plus one even bolder onstage swing!).

Hayes Theatre Co

H.M.S. Pinafore was the show that began it all for G&S. Sullivan’s beautiful music paired with the clever wordplay of Gilbert produced many classics of the music theatre stage, but none more audience pleasing than this early collaboration.  Nowadays, the very mention of the names Gilbert and Sullivan evoke the memory of such shows as The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, and Iolanthe.  But it all started here!

H.M.S. Pinafore

Tennessee Performing Arts Center

Batten down the hatches. Strike the colours. The pirates are back. The ENO’s smash-hit production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s swashbuckling farce returns shortly – and is set to get audiences toe-tapping along all over again.

An unfortunate case of mishearing initiates the plot for The Pirates of Penzance, resulting in a dramatic change of direction for Frederic who sets a course to become a pirate rather than a ‘pilot’! The twists and turns of this classic operetta unfold with ingenious characters, sublime lyrics and some of the best-known songs in opera.

The Players Theatre

So it’s a huge relief when timid Robin Oakapple is revealed as his long-lost elder brother and the true inheritor of the curse. Robin’s romance with the faultlessly correct Rose Maybud looks doomed, but his troubles really start when his feeble crimes drag his exasperated ancestors back from the dead to haunt him…

Ruddigore

Leeds Grand Theatre

Experience the swashbuckling adventure and melodic charm of Knoxville Opera's production of The Pirates of Penzance at the historic Tennessee Theatre on October 25 and 27. This beloved Gilbert and Sullivan opera comes to life under the dynamic direction of  Dean Anthony, Knoxville Opera's very own Producing Director, known for his innovative and energetic staging. Audiences can expect a spirited performance filled with humorous antics, romantic exploits, and the irresistible pull of duty and honor among the pirate crew. Don't miss this enchanting blend of operatic tradition and theatrical flair, perfect for the entire family.

Tennessee Theatre

Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera is packed full of sentimental pirates, blundering policemen and absurd adventures. Frederic, a pirate’s apprentice, falls head-over-heels in love with Mabel, the daughter of a Major-General. He is due to be released from his apprenticeship on his 21st birthday from the Pirate King, but there’s a snag. Born on a Leap Year, Frederic discovers that he is technically still a lad. Although very much in love, his dedication to duty is unshakeable.

Plaza Theatre Company

Opera Holland Park is thrilled to present "The Yeomen of the Guard" by the renowned duo W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, in a captivating new production set to take the stage in August 2024. This Shakespearean comedy, filled with broken hearts and broken vows, unfolds in the historic setting of the Tower of London, where Colonel Fairfax awaits execution on false charges of sorcery. The plot thickens with the arrival of two strolling players, Jack Point and Elsie Maynard, setting off a chain of daring escapes, misunderstandings, and reluctant marriage proposals.

This production marks the fourth collaboration between Opera Holland Park and Charles Court Opera, directed by John Savournin, who also stars as Wilfred Shadbolt, the Head Jailor and Assistant Tormentor. David Eaton will conduct the City of London Sinfonia, bringing this intricate musical score to life. The cast includes William Morgan as Colonel Fairfax, Matthew Kellett as Jack Point, Llio Evans as Elsie Maynard, and Samantha Price as Phoebe Meryll, among others.

Performances are scheduled from Wednesday, August 7th, through Saturday, August 10th, 2024, with evening shows at 7.30pm and a special matinee performance on Saturday at 2.00pm. Ticket prices range across several bands, from the premier seats at £175 (£167 for members) to the INSPIRE tickets at £24, subject to availability. Members can enjoy savings of up to £8 per ticket. Additionally, a Discovery Matinee on Saturday, August 10th, offers a relaxed environment for newcomers to opera or those who find traditional theatre settings inaccessible, with tickets available in various categories.

This production is sung in English with English surtitles, ensuring accessibility for all audiences. Special performances include a Discovery Matinee, a Touch Tour, and an Audio Described Performance on Saturday, August 10th. Enhance your experience by booking a picnic table for a memorable evening at Opera Holland Park.

Join us for a mesmerizing rendition of "The Yeomen of the Guard," a tale of love, intrigue, and comedy, set against the backdrop of one of England's most famous historical landmarks. Book your tickets now for an unforgettable opera experience.

The Yeomen of the Guard

Opera Holland Park

### Event Description: Opera Holland Park - Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Yeomen of the Guard"

#### Event Overview
Join us for an enchanting evening at Opera Holland Park as we present Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Yeomen of the Guard," in collaboration with Charles Court Opera. This Shakespearean comedy, filled with tongue-twisting dialogue and a captivating plot, will be brought to life by the City of London Sinfonia under the baton of David Eaton. Directed by John Savournin, who also stars as Wilfred Shadbolt, Head Jailor and Assistant Tormentor, this production promises to be a memorable experience.

#### Plot Summary
Set in the gloomy Tower of London, Colonel Fairfax awaits execution for a trumped-up charge of sorcery. Phoebe Meryll, hopelessly in love with Fairfax, is just one of the many characters whose hearts are as vulnerable as the colonel’s head. The arrival of two strolling players, Jack Point and Elsie Maynard, sets the stage for a daring escape, leading to a series of misunderstandings and reluctant marriage proposals.

#### Performance Dates and Times
- **Wednesday, 7 August 2024** at 7:30 PM
- **Thursday, 8 August 2024** at 7:30 PM
- **Friday, 9 August 2024** at 7:30 PM
- **Saturday, 10 August 2024** at 2:30 PM
- **Saturday, 10 August 2024** at 7:30 PM

#### Venue
**Opera Holland Park**

#### Ticket Information
- Ticket prices range from £24 to £175.
- A booking fee applies.

#### Booking
To book your tickets, select a date and time from the options above and secure your seats for this delightful production.

#### Additional Information
For more details about the event, the cast, and the production team, please visit the Opera Holland Park website. Don't miss this opportunity to experience a classic Gilbert and Sullivan opera in a stunning outdoor setting.

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Experience the magic of "The Yeomen of the Guard" and immerse yourself in a world of comedy, drama, and exquisite music. Book your tickets now!

Opera Holland Park: Gilbert and Sullivan – The Yeomen of the Guard

We are delighted to welcome Harrogate G&S Society back to Buxton with the new production of all-time favourite, The Pirates of Penzance. You are in for a treat this afternoon!

The Pavilion Gardens

Frederic, a pirate’s apprentice, looks forward to celebrating his 21st birthday with the end of his indenture to the Pirate King. Freed from his duty to his former comrades, and aided by the beautiful and plucky Mabel Stanley, her (very model of a) Major General father, and her many sisters, Frederic now feels called to avenge the infamous deeds of his former masters. But Frederic was born on February 29th, and he learns that his indenture lasts until his 21st birthday, not his 21st year. He still owes his life and his duty to his pirate brethren for another 63 years! Can Frederic fulfill his duty and still find love and happiness with Mabel?

Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Lesher Center for the Arts

The plot centres around the cursed Baronets of Ruddigore, who must commit a daily crime or suffer a fatal consequence. Don’t miss it!

Her son, Strephon, falls in love with Phyllis, a ward of the Chancery. Hilarity ensues as the Queen of the Fairies and members of the House of Lords become entangled in the love affairs. Iolanthe remains a timeless classic, celebrated for its delightful music and clever social commentary.

Iolanthe

Buxton Opera House

The forbidding Tower of London is the setting for the much-loved The Yeomen of the Guard. Two strolling players arrive in town, but little do they know that love, heartbreak, and tragedy await. The songs are a delight, and many consider the score to be Sullivan’s finest. Don’t miss it!

Stephen Turnbull, Secretary of the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society, introduces The Pirates of Penzance. Perfect timing for today’s performances.

Introduction to The Pirates of Penzance

St John's Church Buxton

BBC Radio 3’s Friday Night is Music Night is all about melody and tonight at Fairfield Halls conductor Helen Harrison and the BBC Concert Orchestra have their feet planted in the streets and fields of British folksong.


Friday Night is Music Night at Fairfield Halls

Fairfield Halls

Now entering their third year as a band, Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Brass Band continue to excite and inspire the next generation of the North West’s young brass players. Under the baton of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s section leader trombone, Simon Cowen, join Youth Brass Band for a thrilling performance of Brass Band classics.

Youth Company Festival: Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Brass Band

Yoko Ono Lennon Centre

Set against the backdrop of Cornwall’s coastline, The Pirates of Penzance is a comedic operetta that revolves around a young man mistakenly apprenticed to a band of pirates due to a communication mix-up. As he completes his term with the pirates, he yearns for love and an honorable life.

Central City Opera House

Comedy or Tragedy? Thalia the muse of comedy and Melpomene the muse of tragedy debate the merits of the different types of opera people are watching. Four excerpts from well known, and much loved operas and operettas, will have their entertainment value weighed by these eternal theatre patrons in this new production from Victorian Opera.

OperaBox

The University of Melbourne

From the pale moon’s glow and the calm atmosphere of prayer to the full blaze of human ‘joie de vivre’, the combination of comfort and radiance has always been central to our emotional and spiritual needs. In compiling the music for Draw On Sweet Night, VOCES8 show that composers across the ages, and therefore all of us, have always felt the same way.

Voces8

St Martin’s Church

Lehman College

Travel back in time where one could enjoy a slower pace of life, taking in light orchestras at spas and seaside towns. With music from Eric Coates, Canada’s Robert Fardon, and Ernest Tomlinson, this tradition lives on with unforgettable memories and stories.

Under the Palm Trees

Orpheum Theatre

One hour prior to each performance, audience members are encouraged to attend a free lecture that is open to all ticket holders. These lectures, held in the Tobin Center’s Feik Rotunda, are designed to be educational for opera-goers of all ages and are offered to help the audience gain a better understanding of the production they are about to experience.

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

The Pirates of Penzance tells the story of a young pirate apprentice named Frederic who has come to the end of his indentured period. As it turns out, Frederic was indentured by mistake. His half-deaf nurse had been instructed to apprentice him to a "pilot" but got it a little wrong. Now in its forty-eighth year of operation, New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players is America’s preeminent professional Gilbert & Sullivan repertory ensemble.

McCallum Theatre

Leap years come around every four years, and for one young pirate it causes mayhem and turmoil in this comedy. Gilbert’s witty word play coupled with Sullivan’s memorable music make for a rollicking night at the theatre.

The Brown Theatre

Every child knows about pirates, but who actually are the Pirates of Penzance ? In Gilbert and Sullivan's classic of the English operetta repertoire, the pirate apprentice Frederic dreams of finally leading a decent life because he only ended up in a pirate apprenticeship instead of a private apprenticeship because of a hearing problem with his nanny Ruth. When Frederic meets the lovely daughters of a major general - whose comprehensive education is unfortunately sparse in the military sector - and falls in love with the loveliest of them, the humorous chaos begins: torn between his sense of duty and Due to his overwhelming aversion to being a pirate, Frederic and Ruth, the band of pirates who want to get married under their victorious pirate king on the hunt for the major general's daughters and a group of police officers unwilling to fight, slide through the events to ravishingly comic music, in which the absurd is declined until one faces it Laughing results without a fight.
An absolute must, not just for fans of British humor!

Staatstheater Mainz

Opera Holland Park is thrilled to announce a scintillatingly silly co-production with Charles Court Opera of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera, "Ruddigore." This production lampoons etiquette books and the Victorian obsession with the supernatural, featuring a witch’s curse, a thwarted courtship, an assumed identity, and the irksome business of committing daily acts of wickedness. Directed and starring John Savournin as Sir Despard Murgatroyd, the opera showcases a splendid cast of Gilbert & Sullivan stalwarts alongside fresh talent.

The creative team behind this production includes David Eaton as the conductor, Madeleine Boyd as the designer, Mark Jonathan handling lighting design, Richard Harker as the chorus master, and Merry Holden as the choreographer. The cast features Matthew Kellett as Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, Stephen Gadd as Sir Roderic Murgatroyd, David Webb as Richard Dauntless, and many more talented performers.

Priority booking for the event opens with varying dates starting from Wednesday, 22 February for Jubilee Society, Founders, and Benefactors, leading up to general booking on Wednesday, 5 April. The opera promises an engaging experience with a running time of 2 hours and 55 minutes, including a 30-minute interval, and will be performed in English with surtitles.

Special performances include a Discovery Matinee on Saturday, 12 August 2023, at 2:00 pm, although tickets for this particular showing are currently sold out. However, there may be opportunities to secure Monday Rush tickets for those still interested in attending.

This production of "Ruddigore" is not only a testament to Opera Holland Park's commitment to delivering high-quality performances but also an opportunity to experience a polished and joyful rendition of a Gilbert & Sullivan masterpiece.

As a learning community we acknowledge that the San Francisco Conservatory of Music is located on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramatush Ohlone Peoples. For 1000's of years before our arrival, the Ramatush Ohlone were the custodians of this land and these waterways. We are grateful for their stewardship of the land we work, learn and live on.

Summer@SFCM Vocal Academy Participant Recital

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Join us at Opera Holland Park for a unique evening titled "Ancestral Ghosts: An Insider’s Guide to Ruddigore" on Monday, 24th July 2023, at 6.30pm. This special event brings together an esteemed panel including singer and director John Savournin, pianist and conductor David Eaton, critic Robert Thicknesse, and singer Stephen Gadd, with Opera Holland Park’s Anna Picard moderating the discussion. 

Dive into an evening filled with eerie tales, daily acts of wickedness, Gothic sensibilities, and a celebration of the lasting appeal of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operas. This is a rare opportunity to gain insider perspectives and engage in a lively discussion about the supernatural and the macabre as portrayed in the world of opera.

Priority booking opens on Wednesday, 8th March at 10am for Jubilee Society, Founders and Benefactors, Ambassadors; followed by Thursday, 9th March at 10am for Envoys, Gold Members, and Silver Members; and general booking will be available from Monday, 13th March at 10am.

Don't miss this captivating evening that promises to be a highlight of Opera Holland Park's season. Sign up for our mailing list to receive the latest updates, including casting announcements, ticket sale dates, and more.

Ancestral ghosts: an insider’s guide to Ruddigore

Monday Rush seats are located in the side sections of the auditorium. They are on ground level and covered by the canopy. All Monday Rush seats are sold as general allocation and will be assigned at the discretion of Front of House. Please note that some seats may have slightly restricted views of parts of the stage.

Monday Rush – Ruddigore

The Pirates of Penzance opened on New Year’s Eve in1879, nearly simultaneously in New York and London, and enjoyed an initial run of 363 performances in London. The story revolves around Frederic, who was apprenticed by mistake to a band of tender-hearted pirates. Frederic completed his 21st birthday and, according to his indentures, he is to be released from his apprenticeship. But no, woe to Frederic, he was born on the 29th of February and technically he has a birthday only every four years, meaning that he must serve for another 63 years! He meets the daughters of Major-General Stanley, including Mabel, and the two young people instantly fall in love. Mabel, innocent and sweet, agrees to wait for him faithfully. Will she? What becomes of Frederic? And are the pirates as tender-hearted as they claim?

The Pirates Of Penzance

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

The Senior Adieu concert is a cherished tradition at Boston Conservatory and is always filled with beauty, emotion, fun, and surprises. This eclectic evening of art song, arias, and scenes will feature senior voice performance majors and pianist Yukiko Oba. Please join us in celebrating these wonderful young artists and all they have added to our community over the last few years.

Class Recital: Senior Voice Adieu Concert

Boston Conservatory at Berklee

We are ready to sing, dance, and swashbuckle through Gilbert and Sullivan’s hilarious topsy turvy operetta The Pirates of Penzance. Candy colored seaside fun, pirates preoccupied with moral dilemmas, a loquacious major general, and of course a charming romance will keep you smiling and tapping your feet through this most delightful and tuneful comedy that promises to be fun for the whole family!

East Grand Rapids Performing Arts Center

Toss your worries overboard and set sail for swashbuckling adventure with softhearted buccaneers, dewy-eyed damsels, bumbling British bobbies and “the very model of a modern Major General”. Gilbert and Sullivan’s hilarious, hopeful farce is an effervescent musical romp, overflowing with memorable tunes, tongue twisting texts, jaunty dances and hysterical action. Chart a course for this fun-filled voyage perfect for the whole family. The Pirates of Penzance – they’ll steal your heart away!

Alaska Center for the Performing Arts

Founded in Leipzig in 1992 by five singers from the famous Thomanerchor, amarcord – a name that means “I remember” in the Emilia-Romagna dialect – is part of this new generation of a cappella choirs that has no qualms about breaking down barriers between genres and eras. Together with Daniel Hope's violin and Simon Crawford-Phillips' piano, they plan to take the audience on a journey through half a millennium of creation, from Thomas Tallis to Benjamin Britten.

Daniel Hope & Friends II – Menuhin in London II

Saanen Church

Our singers together with the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra set off acoustic fireworks at the "Great New Year's Eve Concert" in Duisburg Theatre, which brings the year to an amusing close with great opera music. Let us surprise you!

Grand New Year's Eve concert

Theater Duisburg

Coffee Concert № 3 “Do you speak English?”

Volkshaus Jena

For their 2026 production, the Garsington Opera Adult Company present Gilbert and Sullivan’s first major hit, Trial by Jury. This one-act opera is a classic comedy full of emotion, humour and chaos which follows the court case of Angelina and Edwin after she claims he has broken his word to marry her. How will the trial unfold? A truly unbelievable series of events, you’ll have to see it to believe it!

Wormsley

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera hosts The Atlanta Opera's Studio Tour Production of Gilbert and Sullivan's opera The Pirates of Penzance - For Families at the UTC Roland Hayes Recital Hall in Chattanooga. Developed as a family-friendly abridged version of this modern-day masterpiece, this comedic production tells the tale of a young pirate apprentice who grapples with duty, love, and absurd misunderstandings amidst a quirky band of pirates and peculiar policemen.

Family Opera: The Pirates of Penzance

UTC Fine Arts Center

In the 19th century, Penzance was one of the most idyllic and peaceful little towns on the British isle. Pirates... here?! The kings of English operetta, the writing duo Gilbert & Sullivan, had a knack for humorously subverting their audience’s expectations. With this satirical and subversive “recipe,” they created one hit after another.

The rather absurd plot of The Pirates of Penzance would have done proud even to the British humor of Monty Python back in the 19th century: A young man is not trained as a pilot, but instead apprenticed to the Pirates of Penzance because his hard-of-hearing governess confuses the words “pilot” and “pirate.” Upon turning 21, Frederic should have completed his apprenticeship—if only he hadn’t been born in a leap year! According to pirate logic, that makes him just five years old… From this existential dilemma unfolds a love story between the young pirate apprentice and Mabel, a young lady from the British military aristocracy..

Volksoper Wien

Guest performance in Arnstadt »Do you speak English?«

Theater in the castle garden

English Touring Opera’s new production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s last great success.

Two handsome and charming gondoliers discover that one is the long-lost heir to the throne of Barataria – but which one? In the pursuit of the truth, a bewildering series of events threaten both their marriages and their claim to the throne.

The Gondoliers is a fizzing comedy of mistaken identity that marries joy and chaos with a sharp satire of monarchy and class. This new production is helmed by Liam Steel, who directed ETO’s Olivier Award-winning production of Paul Bunyan.

English Touring Opera presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers

Marlowe Theatre

Frederic is finally free from his pirate apprenticeship — or so he thinks. On his 21st birthday, he’s ready to renounce his zany crewmates and embrace a new life on land. But when he falls for the spirited Mabel, daughter of the famously fast-talking Major-General, plans go awry. Chaos erupts as the Major-General, his daughters, the police, and Frederic’s pirate band engage in a hilariously over-the-top clash of swords and parasols. With sparkling wordplay and toe-tapping tunes, Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic operetta is a delight for all ages.

Arthur Sullivan

Events

Upcoming events

Dec 4, 2025 - Feb 7, 2026

HMS Pinafore · London Coliseum

Dec 31, 2025

Grand New Year's Eve concert · Deutsche Oper am Rhein

Feb 15, 2026

Coffee Concert № 3 “Do you speak English?” · Jenaer Philharmonie

7 - 8 Mar, 2026

Trial by Jury · Garsington Opera Adult Company

Mar 14, 2026

Family Opera: The Pirates of Penzance · Chattanooga Symphony & Opera

Past events

Dec 4, 2025 - Feb 7, 2026

HMS Pinafore · London Coliseum

Oct 18 - Nov 1, 2025

The Pirates of Penzance · McCaw Hall

About

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