Spring Budleigh 2008: The Pirates of Penzance
Imperial Productions presents in concert Gilbert & Sullivan's
The Pirates of Penzance
Saturday 19 April 2008 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
at The Public Hall, Budleigh Salterton
Based on our ever-popular and successful format of "Christmas Budleigh", we've decided to head back to our favourite Devonshire seaside town in Spring for the first time. Continuing the Gilbert & Sullivan theme we started last Christmas, we'll put on two semi-staged concert performances of The Pirates of Penzance.
The tale follows Frederic, a young man, through his encounters with a band of tender-hearted orphaned pirates in this story of love, duty and loyalty. The score includes some of Arthur Sullivan's best-loved music, and W S Gilbert's most witty lyrics, with songs including "With cat-like tread", "When the foeman bares his steel", and of course, "I am the very model of a modern Major-General".
The show will be directed by Sarah Hargreaves with musical direction from Wendy Norman.
If you're joining us on stage, in the band, or front of house, check out our Beginners Guide to Spring Budleigh.
Ticket Sales
Tickets for both the matinee and the evening performance are priced at £8. Last December our evening performance of The Mikado sold out, so you are advised to book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Advance ticket sales for this production are available to Imperial Patrons. For a £5 annual subscription, Patrons receive a seating plan in the post and can book their choice of tickets before they go on sale to the public. The scheme also covers advance tickets for our Christmas show in Budleigh, and the ICOS musical tour every August.
The remaining tickets will be sold from late March 2008 through our box office, Budleigh Salterton Tourist Information Centre. Please telephone 01395 445 275 to make your booking.
How to Find Us
The address of the venue is:
The Public Hall
Station Road
Budleigh Salterton
Devon
EX9 6RJ
The town of Budleigh Salterton is in South West England, found near Exeter in East Devon just 10 miles from junction 30 of the M5. Click here for a map of the area. The Public Hall is close to the town centre, adjacent to the green on station road. As well as ample car parking, the hall is served directly by local bus routes from nearby Exmouth and Sidmouth.
Rehearsals
What is going to make this event great will be the quality and particularly the volume of the singing, so we need Hoards of Hooray Henrys, Plenty of Policeman Plods and Gutsy Girls Galore. This is one of the best G&S shows for chorus, so please come and join us and the Musical Band of All-work. Just come along to the first rehearsal on Wednesday 2nd April, 7pm at St Gabriels Halls, Pimlico. If you want to be involved, please email Sarah, the director so she can have some idea of who to expect!
There are only going to be six rehearsals in London, and we are assuming that most people will know the music to some extent, so we won't be doing hours of note-bashing. Therefore we're going to do the concerts off-book; a more satisfying theatrical experience all round, if more adrenalin-inducing. The rehearsals are on the 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th and 17th April, with the dress/tech in Budleigh on the morning of the 19th. We will endeavour to rationalise the rehearsal calls, and you'll be expected to provide your own vocal score/libretto.
Pour the Pirate sherry in Budleigh Salterton – nearer to Penzance than Pimlico is!
Please note that there will be a £10 show fee for participation in this production.