Cast Set for THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE UK Tour

The cast has been revealed for the limited UK tour of Gilbert and Sullivan's witty and touching masterpiece The Pirates of Penzance which will open on 9 January 2025 at Chichester Festival Theatre before visiting Eastbourne and Cheltenham.

With a nearly 50 strong company of international singers, and an orchestra to do justice to Sullivan's brilliant score. Cast Includes Ellie Laugharne as Mabel, George Curnow as Frederic, Sioned Gwen Davies as Ruth, Jonathan Eyers as Pirate King, as Barry Clark as Major General and Benjamin Bevan as Sergeant.

This production, directed by Donna Stirrup (Glyndebourne, Royal Danish Opera, ENO) and conducted by Martin Handley (ENO, Royal Danish Opera, Carl Rosa Opera, D'Oyly Carte Opera, BBC Radio 3) will give a fresh, layered interpretation to one of Britain's most beloved operas as The Pirates of Penzance emerges into a 1919 world where a generation of men have been forever altered, and women move towards emancipation. It is a time when the past refuses to be forgotten, and the future both presents challenges and holds great promise; a time of courage and cowardice, sorrow and laughter, honour and deception; a time of poetry.

Director Donna Stirrup explains that this historical setting will offer a multitude of layers to the story allowing a vibrant and fresh look at a classic of British theatre, and says: “The Pirates of Penzance deserves its position in our theatrical history. It is full of wonderful tunes, witty lyrics and very British situations. It also gives us huge returns when we take a fresh look and place it in another historical context which allows us to dig deeper into the characters and their motives, and tell their story with clarity, humour and humanity”.

Conductor and Co-founder of Tarantara productions Martin Handley adds: ”We are delighted to present this much-loved classic in a way which reflects Gilbert and Sullivan's original intentions with a fifty strong company. By placing the production in a more contemporary setting we aim to put a fresh gloss on tradition, with something bright and new, allowing an opportunity to experience the work in a way that will resonate deeply with modern audiences, inspiring a new generation of converts to the repertoire whilst also captivating existing fans with the story they know and love”

Nearly 150 years after first playing in New York City, The Pirates of Penzance remains one of Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular works, with adaptations over the years winning many awards including a Tony Award for Best Revival and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical. It contains some of their most memorable melodies including ‘I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General' and ‘A Policeman's Lot is Not a Happy One' and is still one of the most frequently performed Gilbert and Sullivan operas.

Jump aboard for a joyful adventure which will bring Gilbert and Sullivan's popular masterpiece to life for longtime fans and new audiences alike.

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