Carl Rosa Opera Announces PIRATES OF PENZANCE Tour

This autumn sees acclaimed company Carl Rosa Opera undertake one of its busiest periods to date. From September to November, following a triumphant West End run in 2008, Carl Rosa Opera are touring what many regard as the most gloriously topsy-turvy of Gilbert & Sullivan's works, The Pirates Of Penzance.

In a production that made history with the first-ever female Sergeant of Police, audiences have a further chance to enjoy this wonderful work, before more dates are announced for spring 2010. Also in September, the company presents a major and moving new production of The Yeoman Of The Guard with Paul Nicholas as jester Jack Point that will play for two nights (Sun 13 & Tues 15 September) in the magnificent setting of the Tower of London as part of the Continental Airlines Tower Festival making for an unforgettable Gilbert & Sullivan experience.

Prior to an extensive nationwide tour in spring 2010 (to be announced later this year with casting news), this glorious production of Pirates will play at three major venues across the UK. Playing at each for a week, it opens at Richmond Theatre on Tues 15 September, before visiting Chichester Festival Theatre in October and Glasgow Theatre Royal in November - see listings for details.

Carl Rosa Opera are delighted to announce that Karen Dunbar and Paul Nicholas will share the role of Sergeant of Police across the tour dates. Karen Dunbar is known to millions for starring in Chewin' The Fat and The Karen Dunbar Show, as well as being a regular at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, in panto in Glasgow and currently a starring role in the new BBC comedy Happy Hollidays. Paul Nicholas is a much-loved actor who became a household name playing Vince in Just Good Friends and whose credits span stage and screen, from the original London production of Hair through to his recent role in ITV1's The Royal Today.

Held in great affection as well as high regard, Carl Rosa Opera continues to present work of the highest standard to audiences both familiar with and new to the world of opera. This remarkable and entirely self-sustaining company is proud to offer a participation programme of education and training alongside its producing work. Carl Rosa Opera's profile is enhanced by its work internationally as well as in the UK and is committed to nurturing future talent as well as offering insight and access into the world of performing and performance with a world-class company.