Thespis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thespis
Original programme
Written by	W. S. Gilbert (words) Arthur Sullivan (music)
Date of premiere	26 December 1871
Place of premiere	Gaiety Theatre London, England
Original language	English
Subject	Greek mythology
Genre	Operetta
Setting	Mount Olympus

Thespis, or The Gods Grown Old is an operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan. It is the first of their fourteen operettas. It was commissioned in 1871 by John Hollingshead, manager and owner of the Gaiety Theatre in the Strand. It was not well rehearsed, and lasted only 65 performances. It was generally well received by the critics.

Thespis takes place on Mount Olympus and tells of a theatrical company which takes over the duties of the ancient Greek gods. Most of the music has been lost, making it impossible to reconstruct the operetta.

• Bradley, Ian. 2001. The Complete Annotated Gilbert and Sullivan. Oxford University Press. p. 3.

Images for kids

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  Thespis' wagon, relief of the Giotto's Belltower in Florence, Italy, Nino Pisano, 1334–1336