School Of Funny 11-22 May 2026

Our flagship School of Funny will be in Brighton this year. This May is your only opportunity to take part in Spymonkey’s most intensive training offer, led by both of our artistic directors Aitor Basauri and Toby Park over 2 weeks. This doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world and the annual ‘overly subscribed’ School Of Funny is

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“These Pirates Take Vienna by Storm” – Reviews Round-up

“The British excel at theatre and satire like hardly any other nation. Spymonkey can do both: in the opulent hustle on stage, historically informed staging, contemporary satire, and movement-based marvels such as a ballet of air spirits blend into an amusing, exuberant mix.” (Der Standard, March 29, 2026) “Spymonkey at

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Kronen Zeitung review in full

These Pirates take Vienna by Storm The British directing duo Spymonkey have made a success of the operetta *The Pirates of Penzance* at the Volksoper By Judith Belfkih Robert Kitzler, ‘interim director’ of the Volksoper, promises the audience at the start an evening of musical theatre just like in the

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Die Presse review in full

British Pirates: Woke? Conservative? Witty! Volksoper. The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan promises an evening of non-stop laughter and excellent music Die Presse review by Jens F. Laurson Watch out, the pirates are coming – from the notorious British seaside town of Penzance to Vienna (presumably via circuitous

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Der Standard review in full

A shift to the right at the Volksoper? The production by the British duo Spymonkey, alias Aitor Basauri and Toby Park, manages the balancing act between exuberant slapstick and astute social commentary A theatre performance featuring an ensemble in historical costumes. Several women wear colourful, voluminous dresses with hats, whilst

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Pirates of Penzance sets sail

Spymonkey’s adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s infamous Pirates of Penzance sets sail in the landlocked Volksoper opera house in Vienna. We’re delighted to be working with Volksoper and the incredibly talented opera singers, chorus and the wider team to bring this production to life. And what better way raise the

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Spymonkey Projects in Development

Apocalypse Wow: Spymonkey ride out as the New Horse-people of the Apocalypse Dinosaurs in Space: touring show for children & families C’mon Tiger: an absurd musical comedy about grief, big cats and way too much egg They’re back. In celebration of 30 years of Spymonkey’s fearless cavorting to the uproarious

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Pirates of Penzance Volksoper – rehearsal gallery

Just finished a glorious week of development on our new operatic adventure at the Volksoper Vienna, our adaptation of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance. We start rehearsals proper end of January. Amazing team. So exciting. What. Larks. Pictured: Lucy Hopkins, Katharina Pizzera, Olivia Plätzer, Petra Massey, Tim Fallon, Marcel

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Die Piraten von Penzance at Volksoper in March 2026

We are delighted to announce our next opera project at the Vienna Volksoper: a new adaptation of Gilbert & Sullivan’s THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE. Following the success of ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD which has now enjoyed three sell-out seasons at the Volksoper since its debut in 2023, we are turning

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