Pop-up Opera 2025 | Scottish Opera

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Pop-up Opera 2025

Pirates of Penzance, The Gondoliers and Puffy MacPuffer and the Crabbit Canals

31 May - 6 July

Touring to Sanquhar, Moniaive, Musselburgh, Cupar, Charlestown, Edinburgh, Milngavie, Coatbridge, Falkirk, Lochcarron, Fort Augustus, Ardrishaig, Cruden Bay, Kirriemuir, Ayr, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow and East Kilbride.

Join us this summer to experience opera on a miniature scale, with specially-created 30 minute performances brought to life by two singers, instrumentalists and a beautiful set of illustrations.

Scottish Opera presents a celebration of Gilbert & Sullivan comedies - A Little Bit of The Pirates of Penzance and A Little Bit of The Gondoliers. Packed with screwball humour, memorable characters, and of course brilliant tongue-twisting tunes, these 30-minute operas are perfect for audiences of all ages. Enjoy a single performance or a double feature!

In addition, Pop-up Opera 2025 presents a Scottish Opera original - Puffy MacPuffer and the Crabbit Canals. This special performance cruises through the very different canals that run the length and breadth of Scotland.

Scottish Opera has joined forces with Scottish Canals to bring public Pop-up Opera performances across various canal locations in Scotland.

Alongside the tour, Pop-up Opera will be hosting free illustration workshops for kids aged 5 to 8, in Ardrishaig and Ayr. Hosted by Puffy MacPuffer illustrator Iain Percy. Click below for more details:

FREE WORKSHOP

A Little Bit of The Pirates of Penzance | Gilbert & Sullivan arr. Derek Clark | Words Allan Dunn

A young man bound by an overactive sense of duty, a soft-hearted pirate king with a hopeless band of rogues at his side, a beautiful young girl, a very modern major-general and a bumbling police force add to a plot hinging on the technicalities of having a birthday on the 29th of February. What could possibly go wrong?

A Little Bit of The Gondoliers | Gilbert & Sullivan arr. Derek Clark | Words Allan Dunn

Two gorgeous gondoliers, dozens of adoring girls and the lost heir to the kingdom of Barataria: it can mean just one thing – trouble. Float away with us to Venice for one of Gilbert & Sullivan’s wittiest satires... It’s all about love, actually!

Puffy MacPuffer and the Crabbit Canals | Words & Music Marion Christie

A tale of the five waterways that link Scotland from the North Sea to the Atlantic. Like most families, each one is different: Caledonian – the longest; Crinan – the most beautiful; Monklands – hard-working; Union – the fastest; Forth & Clyde – the wise. Each one thinks they’re the best. Can an ordinary little puffer boat make them think again?

Kindly supported by Friends of Scottish Opera

Show Details

Running time:
Approx. 30 mins for each opera

Language:
All three operas will be sung in English.

Suggested age guidance:
Suitable for audiences of all ages.

Ticket price:
£7 per 30-minute show - booked separately.
£12 for the double-bill performances on 5, 6, 14, 18 & 20 June.

Concessions:
Free tickets for essential companions.
Babes in arms free (no ticket required).

Access:
Step-free access for all performances except The Voyager Barge performances on 3 & 4 July, which is not accessible.
Outdoor performances: 8 & 15 June, 5 & 6 July.
All other performances will be inside.

Cast & Creatives

Storyteller
Katie Barnett, Allan Dunn

Soprano
Jessica Leary, Holly Teague

Baritone
Colin Murray, Paul Grant

Cello
Andrew Drummond Huggan

Guitar
Luke Anderson, Sasha Savaloni

Music Director: Gilbert & Sullivan
Derek Clark, Michal Gajzler

Music Director: Puffy MacPuffer and the Crabbit Canals
Marion Christie

Illustrator: Gilbert & Sullivan
Otto von Beach

Illustrator: Puffy MacPuffer and the Crabbit Canals
Iain Piercy

Free Outdoor Performances

Scottish Opera will be hosting 8 outdoor performances across 4 days in Edinburgh Union Canal, The Falkirk Wheel, Stockingfield Bridge and East Kilbride Arts Centre.

These events are free and will NOT require a ticket upon entry.

Details can be found below:

Edinburgh Union Canal, Lochrin Basin
Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 9QG
Sunday 8 June 2025
Puffy MacPuffer and the Crabbit Canals: 1pm
A Little Bit of The Pirates of Penzance: 3pm

The Falkirk Wheel
Lime Road, Falkirk, FK1 4RS
Sunday 15 June 2025
Puffy MacPuffer and the Crabbit Canals: 1pm
A Little Bit of The Pirates of Penzance: 3pm

Stockingfield Bridge
Stockingfield Bridge, near Brassey St, Glasgow, G20 9HL
Saturday 5 July 2025
Puffy MacPuffer and the Crabbit Canals: 1pm
A Little Bit of The Pirates of Penzance: 3pm

East Kilbride Arts Centre
51-53 Old Coach Road, East Kilbride, G74 4DU
Sunday 6 July 2025
Puffy MacPuffer and the Crabbit Canals: 1pm
A Little Bit of The Pirates of Penzance: 3pm