The Pirates of Penzance

For the first time ever, Hayes Theatre Co brings one of its landmark productions to the Foundry Theatre stage.

After a sold-out extended season at Hayes in 2025, plus stops in Wyong, Wollongong and Canberra, Hayes Theatre Co Artistic Directors Richard Carroll and Victoria Falconer will raise the Jolly Roger once again as they revive their acclaimed version of The Pirates of Penzance.

Madcap, hilarious, and bursting with invention, Carroll’s sparkling new adaptation harnesses the irreverent, genre-busting spirit of Gilbert & Sullivan’s sprawling satirical masterwork and launches it into the 21st century with raucous new life.

And the wildest part? Just five actors play every role.

Original cast members Jay Laga’aia (The Pirate King and others), Brittanie Shipway (Ruth and Mabel!), and Maxwell Simon (Frederic) return to the motley pirate crew once again, joined by new recruits Sarah Murr, Tana Laga’aia and Jonathon Holmes.

Together, this fearless ensemble conjures a world of Pirates, Lovers, Sisters, Major-Generals, and many, many more. Transforming in an instant, as costumes, voices and characters fly past at breakneck speed, it’s a breathtaking theatrical feat, with no safety net and truly “all hands on deck”.

A “riotous example” of Carroll and Falconer’s famous “What if?” approach to theatre-making, the production was hailed by The Sydney Morning Herald as “a stroke of hilarious genius.”

This is Gilbert & Sullivan like you’ve never seen it before: a full throttle tour de force, as five wildly outnumbered actors (swash) buckle up for an epic voyage. The original mega-musical – Re-wired. Re-booted. Re-DUCED!

Get close to the action and grab a seat on a couch or table at the front.