SWINDON: Arts Centre

FRI 21ST JUN, 2013 7.30pm

H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London, England, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which was the second-longest run of any musical theatre piece up to that time. H.M.S. Pinafore was Gilbert and Sullivan's fourth operatic collaboration and their first international sensation.
The story takes place aboard the British ship H.M.S. Pinafore. The captain's daughter, Josephine, is in love with a lower-class sailor, Ralph Rackstraw, although her father intends her to marry Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty. She abides by her father's wishes at first, but Sir Joseph's advocacy of the equality of humankind encourages Ralph and Josephine to overturn conventional social order. They declare their love for each other and eventually plan to elope. The captain discovers this plan, but, as in many of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, a surprise disclosure changes things dramatically near the end of the story.
Trial by Jury
The story concerns a "breach of promise of marriage" lawsuit in which the judge and legal system are the objects of lighthearted satire.



You are unable to select where to sit when purchasing your tickets on-line, if you wish to select specific seats please book through the Box Office on 01793 614837. Other concessions are sometimes available on some of our shows, please visit www.swindon.gov.uk/artscentre for a full listing. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

WeGotTickets are provided with an allocation, if you require more tickets than are available on this site please call the Swindon Arts Centre on 01793 614837 between 12 - 5pm Monday to Friday and 10 - 1pm Saturday.