Gilbert and Sullivan operas are often challenging to develop. While the stories and music have a playful aspect, many elements of their productions are very dated. I initially sought to develop the play as a strict Victorian inspired interpretation, and I think still that this approach has merit- It is an acknowledgement that the material is dated and an attempt to show that in the design. However, as I worked on it, my ideas took a turn towards the seditious. I decided it would be interesting to give it a decidedly feminist slant; The Pirates are Victorian women in drag who have ran away to sea. This certainly flips many parts of the play and definitely impacts the ending. However, close scrutiny reveals that despite upending the play, the dialogue and action still work with the concept.
