The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance
Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic masterpiece contains some of operetta’s best-loved songs and abounds in wit, romance and gloriously absurd plot twists.
As a child, Frederic was mistakenly apprenticed to a band of soft-hearted pirates after his nursemaid misheard instructions that he should be apprenticed to a pilot. Raised at sea, Frederic grows up determined to live an honest and respectable life.
On the day he believes his apprenticeship ends, Frederic falls in love with Mabel, the daughter of the eccentric Major-General Stanley. However, his plans are thrown into chaos when he discovers he must return to the pirates. Torn between love and duty, Frederic faces bungling policemen, loyal pirates and a whirlwind of comic misunderstandings before the story races towards a joyful, topsy-turvy conclusion.
Performed in the beautiful grounds of The Red House, the home of composer Benjamin Britten and tenor Peter Pears, this is a chance to experience this sparkling operetta in an intimate, relaxed setting.
Picnics (and waterproofs, just in case) are encouraged, and please note that seating is not provided, so do please bring your own if desired.
Opera Anywhere:
Hannah Ambrose soprano
Catrin Lewis soprano
Rosemary Braddy mezzo-soprano
Vanessa Woodward alto
Dale Harris tenor
Rob Jenkins tenor
Tristan Stocks tenor
Mike Woodward tenor
James Gribble baritone
Edmund Caird baritone
Mark Horner bass baritone
Vanessa Woodward artistic director
Matthew Rickard music director
Pirates in Britten’s Garden This August, Opera Anywhere brings the wit and sparkle of The Pirates of Penzance to the garden of The Red House — the former home of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears. Britten is rightly celebrated for the dramatic intensity of works such as Peter Grimes, yet he possessed a sharp wit, a deep love of English musical tradition, and an unwavering commitment to clarity of text and ensemble precision — qualities that lie at the very heart of Gilbert & Sullivan. Though his own operatic world was often darker, Britten valued craftsmanship, communication, and the power of music performed at close quarters. The garden at The Red House was a place of hospitality, creativity and shared music-making — a spirit that continues through the legacy of the Aldeburgh Festival. To stage Pirates here is not simply to present a comic operetta in a beautiful setting; it is to celebrate a living tradition of English opera — intelligent, theatrical, and joyfully accessible. With crisp ensemble singing, sparkling wordplay, and Opera Anywhere’s trademark intimacy between performers and audience, this promises to be an evening of laughter, lyricism, and summer magic — pirates and all — in one of the most evocative musical gardens in Britain. The Pirates of Penzance premiered in December 1879 in New York with Sullivan conducting, but there had been a single performance prior to this in Paignton, UK to secure the British copyright. After a successful three-month run in New York, it subsequently ran for 363 performances at the Opera Comique in London. 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 English Garden, Whatever the Weather. As this performance takes place outdoors, we encourage you to dress for all eventualities — sunshine, showers, or a cool evening breeze. Layers, waterproofs, and sensible footwear are strongly recommended. Like true pirates (and true Britten enthusiasts!), we fully intend to sail on through the elements. The performance will proceed whatever the weather, unless conditions become so extreme that safety would be compromised.
Guests are welcome to bring picnics but are asked to provide their own seating and/or blankets..
Starts at 6:00pm