Carl Rosa Opera

							Qu ic kTime ™ a nd a TIFF (Unco mpres sed ) d eco mpres sor are n eed ed to se e th is pi cture.

Presents

Qui ckT ime ™ an d a T IFF (Uncompre sse d) d eco mpresso r are n eed ed to see thi s pi cture.

Starring Karen Dunbar (Chewin’ The Fat) and Paul Nicholas as Sergeant of Police*
with the Carl Rosa Opera Company and Orchestra

Autumn 2009 National Tour Dates Announced
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, (and which continues with Karen Dunbar, hailed as Scotland’s funniest female, in the role at selected venues) 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 YEOMEN OF THE GUARD with Paul Nicholas (who features in two Carl Rosa Opera productions this autumn!) 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 THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE will play at three major venues across the UK. Playing at each for a week, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE 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 (see below for details). 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’.

Set in Penzance in the 1890s, orphaned pirates, flat-footed policemen and a bevy of blushing maidens (the pretty daughters of Major General Stanley) all cross paths in THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE making for a perfect Gilbert & Sullivan sparkling plot! The long arm of the law is never far away, led by the Sergeant of Police, played by Karen Dunbar (Richmond and Glasgow) and Paul Nicholas (Chichester). The production centres around Frederic, an apprenticed pirate who at 21 is now free to leave the Pirate band. His nursemaid Ruth confesses her love for him and, having never seen another woman before, they plan to elope together until he meets the Major General Stanley’s beautiful young daughter Mabel, with whom he falls in love. The Major General and his daughters find themselves surrounded by the pirates so, to save his life, describes himself as an orphan where, by their rules, they must let him go. When Frederic is confronted with the fact that because he was born in leap year he is technically only five and a quarter so must therefore return to being a Pirate, he reveals the Major General’s dishonesty to the pirates. It is at this point of high drama that the Police are summoned to defend Mabel and her sisters and, fortunately for all, the Sergeant of Police is there to take the situation in hand, giving rise to some much-loved songs for that role including ‘A Policeman’s lot is not a happy one’. Audiences will be drawn into this Cornish-set story as Frederic wrestles with love and loyalty, principles and pirate-ways. This colourfully costumed production stunningly brings to life the original period setting and is revived here by Steve Elias from Carl Rosa Opera’s Artistic Director Peter Mulloy’s design and direction for his acclaimed 2008 production. 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. *Please note, Karen Dunbar will play the role of Sergeant of Police at both Richmond Theatre and Glasgow Theatre Royal and Paul Nicholas will perform in the part at Chichester Festival Theatre. For all press enquiries regarding THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE including press tickets, interview and image requests, please contact Eleanor Jeffery at Target Live: eleanor.jeffery@target-live.co.uk / 020 7907 1116 Carl Rosa Opera: The Pirates of Penzance UK Tour 2009
Tuesday 15 – Saturday 19 September RICHMOND Theatre 0844 871 7651 Monday 26 – Saturday 31 October CHICHESTER Festival Theatre 01242 572573 Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 November GLASGOW Theatre Royal 0870 060 6647 www.carlrosaopera.co.uk Further tour dates and casting news for Spring 2010 to be announced later this year