The Pirates of Penzance | The Plough Arts Centre

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The Pirates of Penzance

Tue 21 Jul 2026 to Thu 03 Sep 2026
Arlington Court (NT) (map)
Castle Drogo (NT) (map)
Arlington Court (NT)
Tue 21 Jul 2026, 6:30pm
Castle Drogo (NT)
Thu 03 Sep 2026, 7:00pm
Live Theatre
Open-Air Theatre

Illyria Presents

The Pirates of Penzance

£22.00 Full price
£18.00 Supporter learn more
£20.00 Advance
£14.00 Under 18
Book 6+ tickets, get 10% off!*
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Please note a non-refundable 5% booking fee is added to most bookings to cover admin costs.
Login before selecting your tickets for Supporter discounts to be applied at the checkout.
Frederick, accidentally apprenticed to Pirates as a child, is indentured to the Pirate King until his 21st birthday. On the day he reaches 21 he leaves the ship, announcing that he now intends to dedicate his life to the Pirates’ destruction. The Pirate King checks the contract’s small print – and realises that as Frederick’s birthday is 29th February on a leap year he has only had four birthdays and is actually indentured for another 63 years. With only the Penzance constabulary to protect him, will Frederick be forced to serve the pirates until he is 84?  And will his sweetheart, Mabel, wait for him that long? Performed by a six-strong cast of actor/singers with fully orchestrated accompaniment, The Pirates of Penzance boasts such gloriously memorable songs as “To be a Pirate King!”; “Modern Major General” and “A Policeman’s Lot is Not a Happy One”. With razor sharp satire and glittering wit, it remains as fresh as if it had been written today.
 

General Information

  • All performances are approx 2 hours incl 20 minute interval unless otherwise stated
  • Admission to the venue is 1 hour before performance start time unless otherwise stated
  • There will be a cash raffle at each event
  • Bring low-backed seating, blankets, and weather-appropriate clothing!
  • Check our website for more venue-specific information about accessibility, food & drink options, and dogs
  • Please support the venues by purchasing refreshments from their vendors if available
  • Under 4’s go free!

*T&Cs apply

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Patrons: Sir Michael Morpurgo O.B.E., Jenny Eclair, Sir Andrew Motion, Alistair McGowan, Show of Hands, Ian McMillan, Richard Digance, Tape Face, Dave Kelly

Company Number 4404875 Registered Charity Number 1093715 Copyright © 2010 - 2026

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The Plough Arts Centre is delighted to acknowledge the financial support of: 
Great Torrington Town Council, Torrington Town and Lands Charities, Devon County Council, Torridge District Council, Arts Council England, The UK Culture Recovery Fund, The National Lottery Community Fund, Boshier Hinton, Barnstaple Town Council, Davie Barnstaple Trust, Garfield Weston 

Supported by Arts Council England (logo) and The National Lottery

The Plough Arts Centre Limited,
9–11 Fore Street,
Great Torrington,
Devon, EX38 8HQ

Box Office 01805 624624