The partnership between William Schwenck Gilbert and Arthur Seymour Sullivan and their canon of Savoy Operas is rightly lauded by all lovers of comic opera the world over. Gilbert's sharp, funny words and Sullivan's deliciously lively and hummable tunes create a world that is distinctly British in view but has the world as its audience. Both men were exceptionally talented and gifted in their own right and wrote much, often with other partners, that still stands the test of time. However, together as a team they created Light or Comic Operas of a standard that have had no rivals equal to their standard, before or since. That's quite an achievement. To be recognised by the critics is one thing but their commercial success was incredible. The profits were astronomical, allowing for the building of their own purpose built theatre - The Savoy Theatre. Beginning with the first of their fourteen collaborations, Thespis in 1871 and travelling through many classics including The Sorcerer (1877), H.M.S. Pinafore (1878), The Pirates of Penzance (1879), The Mikado (1885), The Gondoliers (1889) to their finale in 1896 with The Grand Duke, Gilbert & Sullivan created a legacy that is constantly revived and admired in theatres and other media to this very day.

Reproduction of the original.

An examination of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operas, and how parody was used in the culture wars of late-nineteenth-century England.

An international team of contributors, including film director Mike Leigh, presents fresh insights into the work of Gilbert and Sullivan.

'The Pinafore Picture Book: the Story of H.M.S. Pinafore' by W. S. Gilbert is a delightful comic opera filled with romance and mistaken identities. On board the British warship H.M.S. Pinafore, love and laughter intertwine. Ralph Rackstraw, a humble sailor, falls for Josephine, the Captain's daughter, despite the social divide. As secrets are unveiled and disguises are worn, the crew finds themselves in a whirlwind of unexpected alliances and forbidden desires.