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The Pirates of Penzance


  • Canberra Theatre Centre (map)

The Gilbert & Sullivan classic… re-wired and re-booted.

(Swash) buckle in for an epic voyage as the Hayes Theatre Co harness the irreverent, genre-busting spirit of a sprawling, satirical, musical masterwork, and bring it to raucous new life for a 21st-century audience.

This brand-new, boisterously joyful adaptation is brought to life by just four bold performers, including Jay Laga’aia and Brittanie Shipway.

Between them, this intrepid quartet bring to life:

  • Their Pirate King, devoted to a life of swashbuckling and skullduggery – as long as the hours aren’t too demanding;

  • Ruth, the nursemaid who hasn’t been entirely truthful, but who reveals a natural talent and appetite for piracy;

  • Mabel, a young woman thirsty for new experiences (and just plain thirsty);

  • Frederic, our young hero thrown into an existential battle between his old and new worlds by a series of irritating administrative errors;

  • A Major-General devoted to respectability but tormented by the shame he has brought onto his ancestors-by-purchase;

  • PLUS! The motley pirate crew, a troupe of singing police recruits, Mabel’s eclectic group of sisters; and the faithful piratical accomplice/pianist, Fish Cake.

Event Details:

  • Dates: 2–6 April 2025

  • Times:
    Wednesday 2 April 2025, 7.30pm (Preview)
    Thursday 3 April 2025, 7.30pm (Opening Night)
    Friday 4 April 2025, 7.30pm
    Saturday 5 April 2025, 1pm & 7.30pm
    Sunday 6 April 2025, 1pm & 5pm

  • Duration: Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, including interval.

  • Suitable for: This performance is suitable for audiences aged 12+ or with parental discretion.

  • Location: Canberra Theatre Centre

  • Warnings: This performance may contain strobe lighting and haze effects.

More info & tickets here.