Charles Court Opera’s 10th Gilbert & Sullivan season at King’s Head Theatre, H.M.S. Pinafore, to be a joyous homage to the golden age of technicolour that satirises ‘entrenched British class divisions.’
Season:
Wednesday 10 April – Saturday 11 May
Following
nine critically-acclaimed, wildly popular seasons of Gilbert & Sullivan’s beloved operettas at King’s Head Theatre, internationally-renowned chamber opera company Charles Court Opera’s humorous, heartfelt and high energy take on
H.M.S. Pinafore
will run from 10 April to 11 May 2019, with a press night on Tuesday 16 April.
In the
15 years since the company was formed, Charles Court Opera have toured Gilbert & Sullivan productions across the UK and USA to some of the most high-profile venues and arts festivals and have built a reputation as ‘the masters of Gilbert & Sullivan in small
spaces’ (Camden New Journal). In 2016, they became an Associate Company of King’s Head Theatre.
H.M.S.
Pinafore is set on board a strictly hierarchical naval ship and satirises
the rigid British class system. Josephine, the Captain’s daughter has fallen in love with a lowly sailor, Ralph Rackstraw, despite being promised to the First Lord of the Admiralty.
Featuring
some of Sullivan’s best loved music, including ‘I am
the Monarch of the sea’ and
‘He is an Englishman,’
audiences can expect an evening of rollicking choruses and tender tunes imbued with unique wit and infectious energy in a show suitable for all ages, that harks back to the golden age of technicolour.
Director John Savournin said ‘I’m delighted to bring our visually explosive and playfully joyous production of H.M.S. Pinafore, in our 10th Gilbert & Sullivan season, to King’s Head Theatre. In an age where British class divisions seem more entrenched than ever, Gilbert & Sullivan’s witty satire is not only superb entertainment, it’s incredibly relevant to the times in which we live.