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Attended by Their Royal Highnesses The Earl and Countess of Wessex. 'The Pirates of Penzance' is probably the most humorous of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, with tuneful melodies and well known songs, Poor Wandering One, I Am The Very Model of a Modern Major General, The Sergeant of Police and Policeman's Chorus. The evening will begin with a champagne reception attended by The Earl and Countess, followed by a performance of Joseph Papp's Broadway version of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance. The reception will take place in the new Sponsor's Building alongside the landscaped picnic lawns. Proceeds from the Gala will go towards the ongoing fundraising campaign for further improvements to the Open Air Theatre.

Performers Paul Bradley (Major General), Jimmy Johnston (Pirate King), Gay Soper (Ruth).
Author W.S.Gilbert. Author A.Sullivan. Company The New Shakespeare Company Ltd. Director Ian Talbot. Design Terry Parson. Director Catherine Jayes (music). Choreographer Gillian Gregory. Director Terry King (fight). Lighting Jason Taylor. Sound Angela McCluney. Sound Simon Whitehorn. Director Clare Prenton (assistant director).