About the Show

A comic operetta where class, love, and duty collide aboard a British naval vessel.

Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore returns in a comedic operetta that follows Captain Corcoran and his daughter Josephine, who is torn between an arranged match with the high-ranking First Lord of the Admiralty and her love for a common sailor, Ralph. Set aboard a 19th-century Royal Navy ship, the production satirizes British class distinctions and social conventions through mistaken identities, secret plans, and a twist that upends expectations.

This revival presents a classic work from the Victorian duo, blending romantic entanglements with sharp lyrical wit and lively ensemble performances.

Critic Reviews (6)

"There is a lovely moment at the end that showcases the many different nationalities that comprise English National Opera. This is nothing if not a joyful ensemble piece."
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"Beauty and the Beast: A Horny Love Story is resolutely light-hearted, but don’t let the innuendos and frothiness conceal the warmth, festive dose of queer affirmation at this show’s core."
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"When it’s firing on all cylinders, as in the barnstorming company hornpipe, this gloriously daffy Pinafore is a real crowd-pleaser."
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"Most of that happens after the interval, when the pace is lifted so much that you wonder whether someone has given the cast an Alex Ferguson-style roasting in the break. "
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"From young performers to seasoned veterans, everyone, it seemed, was soaking in the spotlight and the magic of the moment. And in the end, that joy really does matter."
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"The real stand-out performances of this revival, however, come from the brilliantly drilled ENO chorus with their witty and stylish choreography."
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