Hayes Theatre Co announces Cast for The Pirates of Penzance

A cast of five bold talented performers has been announced for Richard Carroll’s boisterously joyful adaptation of The Pirates of Penzance or The Slave of Duty that will embark on a tour around NSW and the ACT in 2025.

This Gilbert and Sullivan classic has been brought back to raucous new life for a 21st-century audience. As previously announced, in the role of the Pirate King is much-loved actor Jay Laga’aia. Fresh from treading the boards as crooner Vince Fontaine in Grease, Jay’s impressive list of stage credits include Once, The Lion King and WICKED. His screen credits include Nim’s Island, Star Wars and Doctor Doctor.

Joining Jay to bring the remaining characters to life are Maxwell Simon (Assassins, Moulin Rouge) as Frederic and Brittanie Shipway (The Lovers, The Dismissal) as Ruth and Mabel. Cabaret star Trevor Jones will don two caps, playing the Major-General as well as musical direct the show. Hayes favourite Billie Palin (RENT, Godspell) is the Onstage Swing.

Between them, this intrepid band bring to life: The Pirate King, devoted to a life of swashbuckling and skullduggery – as long as the hours aren’t too demanding; and Ruth, the nursemaid who hasn’t been entirely truthful, but who reveals a natural talent and appetite for piracy.

Then there’s Mabel, a young woman thirsty for new experiences (and just plain thirsty); and Frederic, our young hero thrown into an existential battle between his old and new worlds by a series of irritating administrative errors;

And a Major-General devoted to respectability but tormented by the shame he has brought onto his ancestors-by-purchase; plus the motley pirate crew, a troupe of singing police recruits, Mabel’s eclectic group of sisters and the faithful piratical accomplice/pianist, Fish Cake. Buckle up for an epic voyage…

“Pirates has such a wonderful, mischievous irreverence in its DNA, and I’ve tried to harness that and build on it in the new script and lyrics for this adaptation,” said director Richard Carroll. “The songs are absolute solid-gold classics, and the characters are so entertaining and memorable – our goal is to serve them the best way we can.”

“Gathering this insanely talented group of performers makes me even more excited to share this new version of Pirates with the world,” said Carroll.

Director: Richard Carroll | Featuring: Trevor Jones, Jay Laga’aia, Simon Maxwell, Billie Palin, Brittanie Shipway | Arranger & Musical Supervisor: Victoria Falconer | Musical Director: Trevor Jones | Assistant Director & Choreographer: Shannon Burns | Set Designer: Nick Fry | Costume Designer: Lily Mateljan | Lighting Designer: Jasmine Rizk | Sound Designer: Daniel Herten | Production Manager: Abbey Pace | Stage Manager: Sherydan Simson