Ahoy there! Auditions for HMS Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan are taking place on Sunday, 8 June at the Torbay Community Hall, 35 Watea Road. This classic comic opera is directed by the fabulous Peter Segrove and his experienced creative team.

HMS Pinafore is not quite a full-length operetta. There were casting issues in 1878: the comedienne who was cast to play Cousin Hebe pulled out and the young singer replacing her would not have been able to cope with the comic dialogue or the full solo songs. Accordingly, most of the role of Cousin Hebe was cut and this shortened the show considerably. It is Director Peter Segrove’s aim to extend this production of HMS Pinafore and make up for lost time! We have the original dialogue which was cut and are also looking to insert a song or two to flesh out the role of Cousin Hebe.

The story is a typical Gilbert and Sullivan imbroglio, and is easily told in a single (long!) sentence. Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty, is arriving on the HMS Pinafore, along with a chorus of his sisters, cousins and aunts, to claim the hand of the Captain’s daughter, Josephine, who is unfortunately in love with a common sailor, Ralph Rackstraw, but is unable to tell Ralph because, although she loves him, she fears that life as the wife of a sailor would be very hard compared with that of the wife of a Lord and, in addition, she does not want to disappoint her father Captain Corcoran, who is determined that the match should happen, although he is warned by Little Buttercup, a nautical gypsy-like peddler, who is herself in love with the Captain, that strange things are about to happen!

Chorus auditions begin at 2pm, followed by principal auditions at 3pm.

The show will run from 25 September to 5 October and promises nautical charm, witty satire, and unforgettable tunes.

Contact Peter for more information. All welcome – no experience necessary!