The Pirates of Penzance at Foundry Theatre

The Pirates of Penzance
or The Slave of Duty

Five Actors. Every Role.

For the first time ever, Hayes Theatre Co brings one of its landmark productions to the Foundry stage.

After a sold-out extended season at Hayes in 2025, plus stops in Wyong, Wollongong and Canberra, Hayes Theatre Co Artistic Directors Richard Carroll and Victoria Falconer will raise the Jolly Roger once again as they revive their acclaimed version of The Pirates of Penzance.

Madcap, hilarious, and bursting with invention, Carroll’s sparkling new adaptation harnesses the irreverent, genre-busting spirit of Gilbert & Sullivan’s sprawling satirical masterwork and launches it into the 21st century with raucous new life.

And the wildest part? Just five actors play every role.

Original cast members Jay Laga’aia (The Pirate King and others), Brittanie Shipway (Ruth and Mabel!), and Maxwell Simon (Frederic) return to the motley pirate crew once again, joined by new recruit Tana Laga’aia.

Together, this fearless ensemble conjures a world of Pirates, Lovers, Sisters, Major-Generals, and many, many more. Characters transform in an instant as costumes, voices and personalities fly past at breakneck speed. It’s a breathtaking theatrical feat with no safety net and truly “all hands on deck”.

A “riotous example” of Carroll and Falconer’s famous “What if?” approach to theatre-making, the production was hailed by The Sydney Morning Herald as “a stroke of hilarious genius.”

This is Gilbert & Sullivan like you’ve never seen it before: a full throttle tour de force starring five wildly outnumbered actors (swash) buckle up for an epic voyage. The original mega-musical - Re-wired. Re-booted. Re-DUCED!

Pirates of Penzance was developed and presented in association with The Art House Wyong in 2025.

“A practically perfect Pirates experience”
TIME OUT

“Packs no shortage of delights”
TIME OUT

“Beautifully ridiculous charm”
TIME OUT

“A hugely sophisticated show”
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

“A delight!”
STAGE NOISE

“Keeps the laughs bubbling up”
CULTURAL BINGE

1/2
“Such a treat to watch”
WHAT’S THE SHOW