The Pirates of Penzance to sail into Perth this March

Hurrah for The Pirate King! Gilbert and Sullivan’s uproariously silly operetta The Pirates of Penzance storms the stage of His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth, for a romp across the high seas and to the Motherland.

Act One opens near a rocky sea-shore on the coast of Cornwall. A band of pirates offer a toast to Frederic, their apprentice, as he is 21 years old and his indentures are almost up. Despite dutifully serving his masters, he loathed being a pirate and is looking forward to a more respectable career.

The other pirates refuse to join him but do admit they can’t make piracy pay. Frederic tells them they are slaves to their tender hearts, including their refusal to take advantage of anyone they believe to be an orphan.

Meanwhile, Frederic’s former nursemaid, Ruth, who has also joined the band as a piratical maid-of-all-work, wants to leave with him and become his wife. Frederic, who has seen very few women, takes Ruth at her word when she claims to be beautiful and agrees. That is, until he sees the young daughters of Major General Stanley arrive for a picnic.

The girls are shocked to learn that Frederic is a pirate and all reject his advances except Mabel. Her sisters are seized by the pirates and threatened with marriage. The Major-General arrives and plays on the pirates’ sympathy by telling them he is an orphan. The pirates release the General and his daughters.

Act Two opens in a ruined chapel by moonlight. The Major-General broods among the ruins, troubled by the lie he has told and fearing the consequences. His daughters comfort him and Frederic lifts his spirits with a plan to march against the pirates with a squad of police.

The Pirate King and Ruth arrive with news of a technicality concerning Frederic, and to recall him to service. Frederic’s sense of duty is so strong, he agrees to rejoin the pirates and bids farewell to Mabel. And being an obedient young man, he tells the pirates that the Major-General is not, in fact, an orphan.

Attempting to attack the Major-General, the pirates find him defended by police. The pirates win the skirmish and the Major-General is taken prisoner. But when the Sergeant of Police commands the pirates to surrender in the name of the Queen, Ruth reveals they are all in fact peers of the realm, noblemen who have gone astray. The Major-General pardons them and grants his daughters’ hands in marriage.

Bursting with much-loved music, the score will leave you grinning with classics including Pour, O Pour the Pirate Sherry, I am the Pirate King, Poor Wandering One, I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General, and With Cat-Like Tread.

Following his performance in the titular role in WAO’s Sweeney Todd, musical theatre star Ben Mingay returns as the swashbuckling Pirate King. As well as, home-grown international opera star Alasdair Kent who will make his long-awaited principal debut with WAO as Frederic.

They are joined by Andrew Foote as the Major General, Brett Peart as the Sergeant of Police, Lachlann Lawton as Samuel, Emma Pettemerides as Edith, Belinda Butler as Kate, Claire Condipodero as Isabel, Penny Shaw as Ruth, and Prudence Sanders as Mabel.

Directed by Stuart Maunder AM (Carmen, Sweeney Todd, Cunning Little Vixen) with Christopher Van Tuinen conducting the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, don’t miss this hilarious must-see production in its Perth premiere.

Conductor: Christopher Van Tuinen | Director: Stuart Maunder AM | Featuring: Belinda Butler, Claire Condipodero, Andrew Foote, Alasdair Kent, Lachlann Lawton, Ben Mingay, Brett Peart, Emma Pettemerides, Prudence Sanders, Penny Shaw, West Australian Opera Chorus, West Australian Symphony Orchestra | Original Choreographer: Elizabeth Hill-Cooper | Revival Choreographer: Anna Tsirigotis | Set Designer: Richard Roberts | Costume Design: Roger Kirk AM | Lighting Designer: Trudy Dalgleish | Sound Designer: Noah Ivulich