Producer's Note

What fun to be able to produce “Pirates” again.  It’s been several years since we last enjoyed Gilbert’s wit and Sullivan’s clever musical melodies and harmony.  Their clever distinction of the slim differences between noblemen who have gone wrong, and a Major General who is prepared to save his daughters matrimonial bliss by a telling a white lie is amusing in itself.  And the apprentice pirate whose indentures contain so many complications that to follow his sense of duty means he will never achieve his parents ambition for him to become a pilot, and a group of pirates who only attack bigger and stronger boatloads, and a bevy of so many daughters it’s obvious why their father, the Major General, has aged so much in the last few months, and a bunch of completely ineffective, cowardly and unlikely policemen sent to capture the pirates - all make the show one of the funniest and most popular of the G&S operettas.

I like pirates as it was composed, and whilst appreciating that the newer Broadway version does attempt to update the piece I feel it does little more than lighten, what is already, a very funny show with so many well-composed and memorable tunes, that send the audience away with a song in their heads.  It really was, and still is, unnecessary to play around with it too much.

I hope that you all enjoy the (almost) original version.

Keith  Mitchell

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Musical Director's Note

When I was first asked to be Musical Director for Pirates of Penzance I welcomed the opportunity. Previously to this I have worked with a number of amateur groups in the Essex area, musically directing productions as diverse as A Tale of Two Cities, Honk!, Fiddler on the Roof and A Slice of Saturday Night. Perhaps my greatest achievement to date was as Musical Director for West Side Story with Arts Factory.

I began playing the piano at the age of 8, gaining various qualifications along the way, culminating in a music degree at Royal Holloway University.

I have taught piano privately as well as being an accompanist for a small singing group, performing at various charity concerts and as a wedding pianist.

I currently work in London but my long term career plan is to devote my time to music, continuing my work with local amateur dramatic groups and returning to private tuition.

Clare Penfold - BMus, A.L.C.M.