About

All aboard for a murderous musical mystery tour!

The masters of G&S in small spaces” present this brand new, side-splitting spoof of the classic railway mystery. A trio of intriguing travellers (and a pianist) take on multiple characters, uncover clue upon red herring, while ripping through the G&S operettas with a cake soaked butter knife, all aboard the G&S Express.

Get ready to be swept away on this Topsy-turvy journey - from Penzance to Titipu, from Venice to the Tower of London, from Portsmouth to Fairyland - in a brand new story packed with references from every single G&S operetta. This highly inventive, witty murder mystery spoof is splattered with favourite songs from the Savoy operas including ‘The Pirates of Penzance’, ‘The Mikado’ and ‘H.M.S. Pinafore’, as well as from those less performed, such as ‘The Sorcerer,’ ‘Princess Ida’ and ‘Utopia Ltd’.

All aboard the G&S Express - destination: Murder!

Charles Court Opera is one of the leading chamber opera and music theatre companies in the UK. One of the champions of the reinvigoration of Gilbert and Sullivan, they recently received the award for Best Opera Production at the Off West End awards for H.M.S. Pinafore and this summer, they are to co-produce The Pirates of Penzance with Opera Holland Park.

Devised by John Savournin and David Eaton, with design by Holly Pigott.

PRESS FOR PREVIOUS CCO PRODUCTIONS

★★★★★ “an irresistible staging” - The Stage

★★★★★ "From the opening explosion of energy this is a show that knows where it's heading, and that's to five-star heaven" - What's On Stage

★★★★ “Wickedly funny” - The Guardian

★★★★ “Exquisite, ingenious” - Evening Standard

★★★★ “Extremely well sung” - Time Out Critics’ Choice

“A sparklingly fresh package of laughs, pathos, foolery and high-class music making” - Opera Now

CHARLES COURT OPERA 

Charles Court Opera has been described as one of the leading and most versatile chamber opera and music theatre companies in the UK. They are considered one of the champions of the current reinvigoration of Gilbert and Sullivan, described as “the masters of G&S in small places” and were the 2020 Off-west-end award winners for Best Opera for their production of 'H.M.S. Pinafore'.

Aside from their Gilbert & Sullivan productions, their notorious ‘Boutique Pantos’ have become a legendary part of London’s Christmas, known for their ‘off-piste’ nature and described by the Telegraph as “an annual madhouse”.

They are committed to devising new work, education and outreach, have performed across the UK in venues ranging from pub theatres to concert halls, and toured to the US and Europe.

They have co-produced operas with the Iford Arts Festival as a regular visiting company, and are proud to be an associate company of The King’s Head Theatre, London. This summer, they are to co-produce The Pirates of Penzance with Opera Holland Park, and will also bring their brand new production of Iolanthe to The Roman Theatre Open Air Festival.

Website: www.charlescourtopera.com

Twitter: @charlescourt

Facebook: charlescourtopera 

Instagram: @charlescourtopera

Production artwork designed by Alex Jackson.