H.M.S. Pinafore - The Musical at Artscape

Musical director Alastair Cockburn will introduce a rhythm percussion section into the classical score creating a musical feel to this extremely popular G&S work, substantiating the views of many musicologists that Gilbert and Sullivan helped bridge the gap between operetta and the musical genre. The setting has also been updated to the flighty camp 1950s, allowing choreographer Kyla Thorburn more scope for the swing-time dances of the era. Gilbert's brilliant libretto now explodes with hilarious comedy situations and music from other Savoy operas has been added to expand Sullivan's most tuneful score. The lavish mobile settings have been designed by world-renowned designer Keith Anderson and the saucy and colourful costumes by multi-award designer Heather Earp-Jones. The lighting and sound will be designed by Faheem Bardien and Liam Cookson respectively.

Josephine (Sian Atterbury - Le Roux), daughter of the commander of the HMS Pinafore, Captain Corcoran (Riaan Hunter), is secretly in love with Ralph (Ferdi Oosthuizen), a simple sailor. Her father, however, would like her to marry the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Rt Hon Sir Joseph Porter KCB (David Bolton) - always accompanied by his ever-devoted admirer, Hebe (Lynn Moss). Another sailor, Richard, aka Dick Deadeye (John Carne), does his dastardly best to destroy Ralph and Josephine's happiness, but Little Buttercup (Julie Harris), a saucy fortune teller reveals a secret, and this topsy-turvy satiric comedy of class distinctions ends happily with "joy and rapture unforeseen”.

The season includes Saturday and Sunday matinee performances and a low-price preview on Friday, 18 September. Booking at Computicket and Dial-a-seat +27 (0) 21 421 7695.