''Thespis, [[EitherOrTitle or The Gods Grown Old]]'' is the first collaboration between Creator/GilbertAndSullivan. It premiered in December, 1871. The score for the Opera, save for one song that was published separately and another that the team reused in ''Theatre/ThePiratesOfPenzance'', is [[MissingEpisode lost to time]], though the libretto survives, and productions have occasionally been mounted with different music.

The Gods of Mount Olympus, feeling old and unappreciated, head off down to Earth in disguise to mingle with humanity. They leave a company of actors, led by Thespis, in their stead. HilarityEnsues, of course.
----

!!Behold these tropes:

* {{Bowdlerise}}: Parodied; Daphne, as Calliope, the Muse of Fame, uses a Bowdlerised dictionary to prove that Apollo (played by Sparkeion) is her husband.
--> Thespis: "Apollo was several times married, among others to Issa, Bolina, Coronis, Chymene, Cyrene, Chione, Acacallis, and Calliope."
--> Daphne: And Calliope.
--> Thespis (musing): Ha! I didn't know he was married to them.
--> Daphne (severely): Sir! This is the Family Edition!
* CrosscastRole: Mercury was played by a woman, making this the only such role in any of Gilbert & Sullivan's operas.
* GodJob: Thespis and his company become substitutes for The Olympians.
* MyCard: Jupiter introduces himself to Thespis this way.
* OpeningChorus: "Throughout the Night, the Constellations", sung by the Women's Chorus.
* PhysicalGod: The Gods have ended up old, powerless and ridiculously out of touch. Apparently they still get sacrifices from Australia.
* ReallyGetsAround: Daphne "would flirt with anybody," according to Nicemis.
----