It乌鸦传媒檚 a tale with a century-long history, but when they get their hands on it, it乌鸦传媒檚 a story bred for the 21st century.

Seaton Secondary乌鸦传媒檚 27th Street Theatre Co. presents Gilbert and Sullivan乌鸦传媒檚 The Pirates of Penzance, a semi-modern rock opera Dec. 5-9 and 12-16.

乌鸦传媒淲e have a fresh twist,乌鸦传媒� said Seaton Secondary instructor and director Lana O乌鸦传媒橞rien, adding that rather than being set in the 1880s like the original spinning of the yarn, rendition is set in the 1980s.

乌鸦传媒淲e were challenged on how to bill it to our audience, but we came up with our tagline: a semi-modern rock opera.乌鸦传媒�

The lyrics that Gilbert and Sullivan fans have come to know and love remain unchanged, but the instrumentals have been refreshed and steeped in rock n乌鸦传媒� roll by Lora Bensmiller, Jax Dolman and .

Following that theme, the pirates are decked out in 乌鸦传媒�80s rocker apparel, complete with big hair, leather jackets and mesh; while the police corps are clad in tap dance gear reminiscent of MC Hammer and the Major-General Stanley and company are classic high school preps, complete with popped-collars and sweaters slung over shoulders.

However, the modern-interpretation remains true to the traditional, two act comic opera.

乌鸦传媒淲hen I first picked this show, the students had no clue what is was,乌鸦传媒� O乌鸦传媒橞rien said. 乌鸦传媒淣ow it乌鸦传媒檚 1,000 per cent bought in. They have fallen in love with the operetta.乌鸦传媒�

And for a high school theatre company, bringing in new content is what it乌鸦传媒檚 all about.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e an educational theatre, so doing stuff they know all the time isn乌鸦传媒檛 the best,乌鸦传媒� O乌鸦传媒橞rien said. 乌鸦传媒淲e want to push them.乌鸦传媒�

The cast of 60 kids, with some roles double cast and a maximum of 45 members on stage per night, had to audition to enter O乌鸦传媒橞rien乌鸦传媒檚 honour-level class, with auditions held during spring break the year prior and practices starting in tandem with the fall semester.

乌鸦传媒淲e expect a lot from them,乌鸦传媒� O乌鸦传媒橞rien said. 乌鸦传媒淎nd they deliver.乌鸦传媒�

For the cast, many of whom are working towards a career in the performing arts, the hard work and dedication required is more than worthwhile.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 been a struggle at times but it乌鸦传媒檚 been very worth it for all,乌鸦传媒� said RJ Liebelt, a Grade 12 student who plays Frederic and has performed with the theatre twice. 乌鸦传媒淢any people are finding themselves here. I love being on stage behind all of this glamour and lights. I love spending time backstage, learning who we are as people.乌鸦传媒�

Shaughnessy O乌鸦传媒橞rien, also a Grade 12 student who plays the Pirate Queen and plans on studying theatre in post-secondary, agreed.

乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 nothing quite like being in front of the audience,乌鸦传媒� Shaughnessy said. 乌鸦传媒淚 love being able to be someone other than myself.乌鸦传媒�

Grade 12 student Nelya McDowell, who plays Ruth, added that when you乌鸦传媒檙e on stage, the hard work is paid off.

乌鸦传媒淚 love that feeling you get from the audience when they realize all the hard work you put in,乌鸦传媒� McDowell said.

Zac Boring, also a Grade 12 student who plays Samuel 乌鸦传媒� the Pirate Queen乌鸦传媒檚 Lieutenant 乌鸦传媒� has been playing catch up since he was moved up from an understudy to a principal character.

乌鸦传媒淚 just really enjoy it,乌鸦传媒� Boring said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 fun to put yourself in a different character and switch everything you do 乌鸦传媒� it really engages the mind. It乌鸦传媒檚 intense but very fulfilling.乌鸦传媒�

Ellen Campbell, a Grade 12 who plays Mabel, added, 乌鸦传媒淚 just love performing and telling stories. I feel really fulfilled after a show. This is something I could do forever.乌鸦传媒�

And for tech and first-time stage manager Reid Collinson, a Grade 12 student, the performance takes on a different yet parallel tone.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 super fascinating,乌鸦传媒� Collinson said. 乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 kind of a magic you get to see when you see how much goes into the play.乌鸦传媒�

While their hard work has paid off when they stand under the spotlight, the students all agreed that there乌鸦传媒檚 more to theatre than appearing on stage.

For Elise Parsonage, a Grade 12 who plays Matron Major-General, theatre has helped her grow.

乌鸦传媒淚 just love being able to put myself out there,乌鸦传媒� Parsonage said. 乌鸦传媒淚 was a terrified Grade 8, and doing this has really put me out there. Theatre has totally changed me.乌鸦传媒�

27th Street Theatre Co. presents Gilbert and Sullivan乌鸦传媒檚 The Pirates of Penzance, a semi-modern rock opera at Seaton Secondary Dec. 5-9 and 12-16 with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. and matinees Dec. 9 and 16. Tickets are available for $15, all seats, by calling 250-542-3361.