THEATRE TALK: It's Time To Unionise Your Life

Making a pirate copy

What's that you say? Feeling a bit gloomy? Need some chirpiness (otherwise known as Gilbert & Sullivan) in your life? Well, fear not, trusty compatriot, for the Union Theatre's fabulous all-male Pirates of Penzance is BACK. I couldn't be more excited.

After selling out its run at the Union last summer (and what a run), the show transfers to Wilton's Music Hall. When I chatted with director (and theatre head honcho) Sasha Regan last year about her experiences of running a fringe theatre, she told me of her excitement at the possibilities for Pirates in the Hall. "It has a balcony!" she enthused, which the Union certainly does not. It's a tiny space, perfectly utilised by this production, but it will be wonderful to see what Regan can rustle up with a bit more room. This is an absolute must-see, folks - she seems pretty excited.

The Union Theatre's twitter recently revealed: "I went to Wilton's with a Pirate and the design team and glad to say they fell in love with her too - phew!" There's many a reason why this show was nominated for a Whatsonstage award for outstanding fringe theatre - it's completely brilliant, taken completely seriously by its very talented cast and, as a consequence, is very, very funny but also sweet and charming. Gilbert & Sullivan absolutely lives and dies by its interpretation - sometimes it's hilariously brilliant, sometimes it misses the point altogether.

Thankfully, this one is the former. With its tinkling sole piano and inspired choreography, it set the entire audience giggling and beaming as they exited. And the wonderful thing about fringe theatre is that as you exit at the interval, you can catch a sight of 'daughters' lounging about by stage door 'aving a fag. Although the show will, naturally, be recast, with cast members such as Adam Ellis (Mabel) currently starring in Chicago, it will be sad not to hear the wonderfully dulcet tones of Alan Winner as the Pirate King (Winner has returned to America, depressingly) and the gorgeous Samuel Holmes' comical Ruth, the maid who accidentally apprenticed her ward to a pirate, rather than a pilot. I know, oops, right?

For now, gang, you can enjoy the photos below and, following that, enthuse about A Man Of No Importance, which has transferred from the Union to the Arts Theatre and which has just got underway. I interviewed cast member Róisín Sullivan earlier this week and was lucky enough to attend the cast's Dress Circle performance of a selection of numbers from the show, which were beautifully sung and full of humour. One cast member told me they had received news of the transfer at Christmas - what a lovely present at a notoriously quiet time for actors.

When the show, which tells the story of closeted Dublin bus conductor Alfie and his passion for Oscar Wilde, was at the Union last year, it received extremely positive reviews from the critics (hence the transfer) and which was lauded by no other than Stephen Fry. He said of the show: "Brilliant lyrics and perfect score. Finest acting & direction." Really, who could want more?

(Follow the Union Theatre - who kindly let us appropriate their stash of Pirates pics - on www.twitter.com/theuniontheatre)

Alan Winner (Pirate King)

Samuel Holmes (Ruth) and Russell Whitehead (Frederick)

Adam Ellis (Mabel) and Russell Whitehead (Frederick)

Alan Winner (Pirate King) and Stewart Charlesworth (Edith)

Fred Broom (Major-General), Samuel Holmes (Ruth) and Alan Winner (Pirate King)

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