The Mikado
Essgee Entertainments Pty
Genre: Comedy
Cast size: 20
Duration: Two Act
Essgee Entertainments Pty | Musical | Comedy | Full-length | Principals: 5m, 5f Support: 1m (+Chorus)
Short synopsis
- Synopsis
- Characters
- Reviews
Simon Gallaher's Essgee Entertainments has brought Gilbert and Sullivan into the twenty-first century through modern orchestrations, tighter funnier scripts, a fabulous 'megamix' finale, and the unique funky female chorus in three part harmony.
To many people the story told in 'The Mikado' really needs no long-winded explanation (but if you need the synopsis please click here). The Mikado is universally acknowledged as Gilbert and Sullivan's masterpiece - not so much a national, as an international British treasure, and, in 1865 at the Savoy Theatre, London, the curtain went up for the first time on 'a new Japanese opera in two acts by WS Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan'. Perenially popular since that historic premiere, The Mikado now being out of copyright, is played hundreds of time a year often in versions individually modified by the group performing it.
There are also two commercial versions which are copyrighted - the 'Hot Mikado' version played in modernised costumes with the Sullivan score reorchestrated along a variety of musical styles including swing, jazz, blues, gospel, together (with a touch of Andrews Sisters), and this one, the high-energy Australian version, played in traditional costume.
Here some of Sullivan's music has been 'jazzed up' slightly (notably some of the chorus numbers), but the most beautiful and lyrical numbers remain untouched. The most striking alteration is the ability to reduce, if required, the female chorus down to three, and a huge 'megamix' style finale.
EssGee Entertainment's adaptation of 'The Mikado' takes the gentle humour of Gilbert's original words and introduces, additional more modern elements to maintain the interest of a contemporary audience. A number of the principals have some very funny lines to deliver, often during business which verges on pantomime.
The end product is true to the spirit of G&S, and unlike the 'Hot Mikado', it is played in traditional costume, but it is still much more accessible for today's theatregoer.
Essgee Entertainment has thoroughly updated three of these Victorian operetta (HMS Pinafore, The Mikado and The Pirates Of Penzance) allowing today's theatregoer a fresh look at these classics. Almost all the original songs and tunes are included though and despite the 'pop feel' of many of the chorus numbers the most beautiful solos are untouched. The end product is true to the spirit of Gilbert and Sullivan, but much more accessible for today’s audiences.
Applying and paying for royalties
To apply for royalties, please complete the form on our apply for royalties page.
To pay for fixed fee royalties having received your Quotation from us, please go to this payment form.
More information
If you require any additional information regarding this script, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.
Songs
Information for Production Administrators
Frequently asked questions
Can we try before we buy?
Of course! All our plays and pantomimes have a free Preview Script available for download as an A4 pdf file that contains 60-75% of the full script. If you like what you read in that then you can buy an inexpensive e-script of the entire play (generally costing under half the price of a traditional printed script) which is licensed to you for your personal use. Purchasing a script copying licence allows you to make a just sufficient quantity of copies to support rehearsals and performances.
All our musicals are included in our perusal service. Under this, representatives of producing organisations can request a USB Stick of Perusal Material which comprise the script/libretto and piano/vocal score as pdf files; a Cast (or Studio) Recording as mp3 files and (where available) an mp4 file video of either the premiere production or of a subsequent production.
Some titles have the facility to read the entire script online on our website.
Do we need a Licence To Perform?
The simple answer is, yes.
Under the international laws of copyright, you must be in possession of a valid, unexpired, licence before performing any piece of theatre unless the owner or managers of the copyright has waived their rights. (See 'Copyright Questions' below).
Why do you insist on providing a formal royalties quotation?
When you request a quotation, it is logged in our system, it forms part of an orderly queue and protects your place in that queue should multiple licensing requests occur for the same show.
Need help?
Contact us
If you need help with our scripts, please contact our customer service team, we would be more than happy to help.
Established for over 25 years
Unearthing future talent
Stagescripts is a trusted licensing company run by theatre professionals with decades of experience on and off stage. Our curated catalogue includes over 1,000 carefully selected plays, musicals, and pantomimes — from fresh, undiscovered writing to well-loved classics.
We’re passionate about helping theatre-makers at every level discover scripts that inspire, challenge, and connect with audiences. Whether you're staging a village hall production or leading a professional company, our team offers expert advice, flexible support, and a responsive, personal service to help your next performance shine.
