Stuart Maunder | Opera Veteran: The Show That Makes First-Timers Fall in Love With Opera

In this episode, we sit down with Stuart Maunder, Artistic Director of Victorian Opera, to explore the enduring magic of The Pirates of Penzance and the creative life that has grown alongside it. Stuart reflects on decades spent in rehearsal rooms and theatres, tracing how early encounters with pantomime and musical storytelling shaped his love of performance and his belief that theatre should be joyful, generous, and accessible to all.He shares what it’s like to return to Pirates time and again—as a director, a storyteller, and a lifelong fan—unpacking why this famously “silly” operetta continues to resonate across generations. From the terror and exhilaration of stepping into a rehearsal room, to the energy that emerges when seasoned performers and early-career artists collaborate, Stuart offers an inside look at building a production designed to give audiences a genuinely great night out.The conversation delves into why The Pirates of Penzance remains funny and moving more than a century after it was written. Stuart explores the balance between laughter and heartfelt emotion, the power of music to reach audiences beyond words, and the uniquely British humour that keeps the work fresh without losing its original spirit. He also challenges common misconceptions about opera, reframing it not as an elite art form, but as something driven by music, community, and shared human experience.At its heart, this episode is about joy—why laughter matters, why silliness can carry real emotional weight, and why theatre that welcomes people in continues to endure. Whether you’re an opera devotee or a first-timer who’s never thought it was “for you,” this conversation is an invitation to give it a go—and to walk out of the theatre thinking, my God, that was a great night.