Local company Opera Anywhere is currently touring with its impressive repertoire, and on Saturday appeared at Waterperry Gardens with its performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic comedy The Pirates of Penzance.

The cast, led by Opera Anywhere founders Mike and Vanessa Woodward, gave a smashing performance to a packed amphitheatre. The actor-singers provided excellent projection of their voices which easily overpowered the occasional showers of rain.

For the uninitiated, the story begins on young Frederic’s 21st birthday (if it is his 21st!) at which he is finally free from his apprenticeship to a band of pirates which he has been bound to since childhood through a regrettable error. Frederic soon finds himself torn between his love for the local Major-General’s daughter Mabel and his obligation to his former comrades. Many farcical twists and turns follow!

The opera includes many of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most well-known songs such as I am the very model of a modern Major-General, Poor wand'ring one, and With cat-like tread, upon our prey we steal.

Particular highlights among the voices were Edmund Caird’s baritone Pirate King, Helen Winter’s soprano as Mabel, and Austin Gunn as the tenor protagonist, the pirate apprentice Frederic. The comic performance of Fred Bloom as both pirate and police sergeant was especially brilliant.

The intimate open-air performance format is a great idea and provides an authentic experience of old-school comic opera. Opera Anywhere combines professionalism and familiarity in a way rarely seen, as the core singers double as stagehands, costume designers and even directors!

The singers managed to gather the crowd they truly deserve, and the mood was high among the audience in spite of the weather, with the opportunity to combine the show with a picnic and a look around the gardens.

Another chance to see Opera Anywhere performing Pirates in a similar venue is coming up on 6th July at Millets Garden Centre near Abingdon.