An Introduction to Trial by Jury

Gilbert & Sullivan (G&S) is the moniker of the British operatic duo from the Victorian age. W.S Gilbert wrote the lyrics of their operas and Sir Arthur Sullivan wrote the music.

They collaborated for over 25 years and created a total of fourteen operas together including HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado.

The pair’s collaboration reached its peak with the encouragement of Richard D’Oyly Carte whose company produced Gilbert & Sullivan’s works. Carte even opened his own theatre, The Savoy Theatre, to showcase their work.

In Trial by Jury, the setting is an English courtroom, Angelina is there to sue her former fiancé, Edwin. He left her at the altar and she wants compensation for a breach of promise. Angelina, still in her wedding dress, is accompanied by her bridesmaids, also still in their finery.

The Judge and Jury proceed to hear the story of the relationship and decide what should happen to Angelina and Edwin.

Directed by G&S stalwart John Savournin, the operetta is relocated into a 1980s game show. It is a revival of Scottish Opera’s hugely successful production from 2025.

On stage, Trial by Jury will become the sequel to the ill-fated love story in the opera The Zoo. With music by Arthur Sullivan and lyrics by Bolton Rowe in The Zoo, we meet the young lovers who, despite hidden identities, secret marriages and mischievous mix-ups, manage to become engaged. Then in our production of Trial by Jury that same couple from The Zoo will head to court.

For ENO, on stage will be ENO stalwart Neal Davies as the Learned Judge. He is joined by former Harewood Artists Mary Bevan and Robert Murray as the warring couple.