All-male The Pirates of Penzance - Richmond Theatre and on tour
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
ORIGINALLY seen at the Union Theatre in 2009, Sasha Regan’s acclaimed all-male production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance will return for its first UK Tour, opening at Richmond Theatre on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, with a press night on Thursday, April 16.
A classic musical comedy of mistaken identity, The Pirates of Penzance follows young Frederic, a child apprenticed to a band of tender-hearted, orphaned pirates exploring the coastline in search of treasure and romance.
The Pirates of Penzance first opened in 1879 and was an immediate triumph for Gilbert and Sullivan, remaining to this day their most popular and successful collaboration. Described as a fresh and exquisitely funny re-imagining of this much-loved classic, Sasha Regan’s critically acclaimed all-male production is now set to tour the UK.
The cast features Alan Richardson (as Mabel), Samuel Nunn (Frederic), Alex Weatherhill (Ruth), James Waud (Sergeant of Police), Michael Burgen (Samuel), Ben Irish (Edith), Dale Page (Kate), Richard Russell Edwards (Connie) and Chris Theo-Cook (Isabel).
The ensemble company is completed by Joel Elferink, Joseph Houston, William Whelton, Matt Jolly, Tommy Knapp, Liam Lakin and Thomas Henson.
For 15 years, director Sasha Regan has been Artistic Director of the Union Theatre, where her directing credits include Sweeney Todd, Iolanthe, HMS Pinafore, Whistle Down The Wind, Cabaret and Love Story.
The Pirates of Penzance is choreographed by Lizzi Gee, whose recent work includes the BAFTA award-winning film Pride, the UK Tour of Annie Get Your Gun, A Winter’s Tale for the RSC and Rocket to the Moon at the National Theatre. She is currently working on The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas for Chichester Festival Theatre.
Produced by Regan De Wynter and Hilary A. Williams, The Pirates of Penzance has musical direction by David Griffiths, design by Robyn Wilson Owen and lighting by Jack Weir.
From its humble beginnings playing to 50 people under a railway arch at the Union Theatre in Southwark, The Pirates of Penzance went on to win the 2010 WhatsOnStage Award for Best Off West End Production, and play sell-out runs at Wilton’s Music Hall and Hackney Empire, before heading to Australia for a major national tour.
This revival of The Pirates of Penzance falls in the 15th Anniversary year for The Union Theatre, a year which will also see the theatre transfer to a brand new, purpose-built 100-seat space across the road in Southwark. The Union Theatre has developed an extraordinary reputation for reimagining musicals on the small scale, and is becoming known for its all-male productions of Gilbert and Sullivan, with HMS Pinafore also being re-imagined in 2013 to great acclaim.
Following the Richmond dates (April 15 – 18), the tour will continue to Winchester Theatre Royal (April 20 – 25), Bath Theatre Royal (April 27 – May 2), Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford (May 4 – 9), East Riding Theatre (May 19 and 20), The Spa, Bridlington (May 21 – 23), Theatre Royal, Brighton (May 26 – 30), Northcott Theatre, Exeter (June 2 – 6) and Hackney Empire (June 24 – 28).