The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan
Following the success of HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance was born and has become one of the most popular and enduring works of musical theatre to date. It premiered on 31 December 1879 in New York with Sullivan conducting, but there had been a single performance prior to this, of the opera in Paignton, UK to secure the British copyright.

The Pirates of Penzance subsequently ran for 363 performances at the Opera Comique in London after a successful 3 month run in New York. In a letter from Sullivan to his mother he wrote I think it will be a great success, for it is exquisitely funny, and the music is strikingly tuneful and catching. And indeed it is!

An unfortunate case of mishearing initiates the plot for The Pirates of Penzance, resulting in a dramatic change of direction for Frederic who sets 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!