The Chieftain by Francis Burnand and Arthur Sullivan was first produced at the Savoy Theatre under the management of Richard D’Oyly Carte on Wednesday 12th December 1894.

This comic opera was commissioned by Carte to follow Gilbert and Sullivan’s Utopia Limited, their most lavish opera to date, which ended its run on 9th June 1894. Since Gilbert was working with Frank Osmond Carr on His Excellency, Carte turned to Sullivan and Burnand who revamped their earlier one-act comic opera The Contrabandista for the Savoy, adding a second act.

The Contrabandista was originally produced at St. George’s Hall, Langham Place on the 18th December 1867 by the musician and theatre lessee German Reed who had already given Sullivan and Burnand’s first collaboration Cox and Box a one-night production at The Royal Gallery of Illustration. The Contrabandista concerned a band of Spanish brigands and their reluctant new chieftain, the British tourist and amateur photographer Peter Adolphus Grigg who stumbles upon the band and becomes embroiled in ransom and robbery, dancing and disguises. Despite some critical praise The Chieftain closed on 16th March 1898 after a disappointing ninety-eight performances.