From the director:

Pinafore is one of the shortest of the G&S operas and is usually staged with a curtain raiser such as Trial by Jury, Cox & Box or The Zoo. We're not doing that. Instead we will be performing a self contained entr'acte which uses some of the characters from Pinafore in a little diversion from the main opera. You'd have to be a real expert to notice any changes in the words of Pinafore itself - well any deliberate changes anyway - this extra scene is totally self contained and comes before the beginning of Act 2. There are several reasons for this extra scene: more music for the female chorus, more opportunity for female soloists, more opportunity for the younger members of the group to have a small principal role, and, of course, a chance to show that Sir Joseph is right when he says that "All sailors should dance hornpipes"!

Philip Sweet