Pinafore Audience Have Enlightening Experience???

Audiences for HMS Pinafore at London’s Little Opera House, the King’s Head Theatre, were last night (17 November 2010) transported back to the gaslight days of Gilbert and Sullivan after a power cut in Islington left the venue in the dark. Charles Court Opera’s production, which transferred to the King’s Head following a successful run at the Rosemary Branch Theatre, went ahead lit by 20 candles with kitchen foil used to reflect the light. In spite of the power to the Upper Street theatre going out at 6.30pm the show’s audience stayed to support the cast. Amidst a flurry of power cut-based puns, the show’s director John Savournin was quoted as saying the atmosphere in the venue was “electric” whilst theatregoers saw the show “in a new light”. HMS Pinafore opens at the King’s Head on Friday 19 November (previews from 17 November) where it runs until 8 December 2010. We’ve included a picture of the candlelit performance below.