HMS Pinafore sails into Guildford

In Opera della Luna style, eight singer/actors become crew, chorus and principals in a fast and hilarious production of the celebrated comic opera.

Artistic Director jeff clarke said: “Our decision to set HMS Pinafore in a period slightly earlier than its first performance arises from a feeling I have always held that it is a rather different piece from the partnership’s later successes.

“We have chosen Dickens as a point of reference simply because there seem to be so many resonances. In the later operas Gilbert successfully lampooned many varied English institutions, but nowhere did he focus so clearly on class prejudice in society as in HMS Pinafore.

“And, like Dickens, the greatest fascination is with the middle class, who can so quickly be elevated to elegance and luxury on the one hand, and so easily reduced to penury and misery on the other. Gilbert, of course, was still cutting his teeth on what was to be a new and exciting genre.”

Jeff added: “This production has had an unusual evolution. After performing our shortened version of HMS Pinafore, we decided we would like to present the show as a full evening’s entertainment. So we have preserved our streamlined version as the production core and added a new interpolated opening and closing sequence.

“Whilst this will no doubt offend the purists, we believe it enables the tale to be told in our own distinctive energetic style – and of course allows for judicious re-arrangement of the chorus material.”

Tickets on 01483 440000 or www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk.