Dates in England and Wales Added to PIRATES OF PENZANCE Tour

Marking a triumphant return from a ten year absence, D'Oyly Carte Opera Company bursts back onto the stage with an historic collaboration with Scottish Opera; taking an all-singing, all-dancing, richly theatrical production of The Pirates of Penzance on an extended, major UK tour following its premiere at Theatre Royal Glasgow on the 15th May 2013.

Following Scottish Opera and D'Oyly Carte's presentation of The Pirates of Penzance in Scotland Genesius Theatrical Productions and Promenade Productions, recent co-producers of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific, join forces with Scottish Opera and D'Oyly Carte to present the show in five major theatres across England and Wales.

"We are delighted to be returning to performance with this collaboration with Scottish Opera. It is gratifying to be creating a new exciting production with Scotland's national opera company, and fans of Gilbert and Sullivan throughout the UK will be well looked after by this new creative partnership.". Ian Martin, General Manager D'Oyly Carte Opera Company

This production, combines D'Oyly Carte's century-long Gilbert and Sullivan relationship and Scottish Opera's world class reputation for high quality, touring opera. Add a cast and chorus of 39 and The Orchestra of Scottish Opera and the result is a vibrant, lavish, stylish and hilarious romp through one of the duo's finest scores. This is G&S as it was meant to be; and the production simply glories in the excesses of the music, the story telling, the wit and the characters, while bringing the humour bang up to date with a Python-esque twinkle.

"The Pirates of Penzance is a fantastic family show and we are excited to be sharing it with a wider audience. With super singing and dancing and, of course, G&S's trademark fun, it'll be a great night out." Alex Reedijk, General Director Scottish Opera

An exquisitely observed satire of Victorian morals and the English ruling classes, The Pirates of Penzance was Gilbert and Sullivan's second great hit, first performed on Broadway in 1879; and follows the joyfully hapless story of Frederic and his true love, Mabel, daughter of Major-General Stanley.

Having turned 21, Frederic should be contractually released from his apprenticeship to a band of pirates, but discovers his birthday is the 29th February - a leap year. Taking duty a little too literally, he deduces it will consequently take him another 63 years to turn 21! Only Mabel's promise to wait sustains him ....

The Pirates of Penzance features some of Gilbert's wittiest lyrics, not least the famous patter song "I am the very Model of a Modern Major-General." While Sullivan brilliantly mixes opera with his signature catchy melodies and some fine parodies of other composers, notably Verdi's Il Trovotore in "Come, friends, who plough the sea" and "You triumph now".

Tour dates are:
w/c 15/5/2013 Glasgow, Theatre Royal
23/5/2013 Aberdeen, His Majesty's Theatre
28/5/2013 Edinburgh, Festival Theatre
6/6/2013 Inverness, Eden Court
10/6/2013 Manchester, Opera House
17/6/2013 Bristol, Hippodrome
24/6/2013 Newcastle, Theatre Royal
1/7/2013 Oxford, New Theatre
16/7/2013 Cardiff, Wales Millennium Centre