“Energising and enthusing to watch ... punchy, toe-tapping and thrilling to hear!” is how local press described last year’s tour of Yorkshire by the renowned Gilbert and Sullivan company, the West Yorkshire Savoyards.     

 And on Saturday the acclaimed northern touring company return to Settle with their sparkling stage show, the Mikado, being performed at the Victoria Hall.

The show is described as visually stunning with beautiful music, comedy and wit, the Mikado is rightly one of most famous and best-loved of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas. 

Nanki-Poo loves Yum-Yum. Just one snag. She’s betrothed to Ko-Ko, the new Lord High Executioner. And Ko-Ko needs to find someone to execute – chop chop! Otherwise, it’s his own neck on the block. Maybe Ko-Ko and Nanki-Poo can come to some arrangement… without anyone losing their head?  

Packed with anti-Establishment silliness, and full of larger than life characters including self serving politicians that are all too recognisable today, it features some of G&S’s most popular tunes, including ‘Three little maids’, ‘Tit-willow’ and ‘I’ve got a little list’.

The West Yorkshire Savoyards is a touring company made up of seasoned performers drawn from G&S companies throughout the north of England. They come to Settle fresh from individual success at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, held this summer in Harrogate. Among the leading actors in the production singled out for praise was Valerie Green who plays the wonderfully comic baddy, Katisha, and was nominated as ‘Best Character Actress’ at the Festival.  

  The Yorkshire based touring company which specialises in rousing productions of the  Gilbert and Sullivan operas touring with the Mikado during September and October, also visiting Penistone (Sep 3),  Thornton Cleveleys (Sep 11), Scarborough (Sept 18) and Sharow nr Ripon (Oct 1) .  

The company has received the backing of  TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh. The well-known broadcaster, novelist, journalist and gardener said,  "The works of Gilbert and Sullivan continue to inspire and amuse generation after generation of music-lovers and theatre-goers, and the West Yorkshire Savoyards continue to enthral their audiences.  With Sullivan's tuneful melodies and Gilbert's rapier-sharp wit coupled with the W.Y.S. high standards, any audience can be assured of a great show!”

The Director of the Savoyards production is ex D’Oyly Carte actor, Alistair Donkin, and his touring production of The Mikado promises to come alive in a sizzling masterpiece of music and comic timing.  The orchestra is conducted by musical director Oliver Longstaff.

The talented and experienced Savoyards cast is drawn from the region’s best opera companies and includes experienced Manchester soprano Helen Fieldsend as Yum Yum, and popular local actor and director, Graham Weston as the hapless Ko-Ko, ‘the Lord High Executioner’.

Tickets for The Mikado, at the Victoria Hall, ettle, Saturday 24 September at 7.30pm are priced at £15 with concessions available from the Box Office 01729 825718 or on the door. More information on the Savoyards web page,   http://savoyards.webs.com

'Principals' - Taking the main roles in the Mikado on tour are (left to right/top to bottom): David Parker (The Mikado), Graham Weston (Ko-Ko), Helen Fieldsend (Yum-Yum), Valerie Green (Katisha), Pauline Hepkin (Peep-Bo), Paul Richmond (Nanki-Poo), John Colston (Pooh-Bah), Janice Rendel (Pitti-Sing), Ian Stewart (Pish-Tush)

'News 1'  The Mikado (David Parker) with Katisha (Valerie Green)

News 2  Ko-Ko (Graham Weston) plots with Pooh-Bah (John Colston)

News 3  The Three Little Maids ( Janice Rendell, Helen Fieldsend and Pauline Hepkin)

News 4  Ko-Ko (Graham Weston ) tries to kiss Yum-Yum (Helen Fieldsend)

News 5  Katisha in mourning (Valerie Green)

News 6  Meeting the Mikado (right David Parker) Pooh Bah (john Colston, Pitti-Sing (Jance Rendell) and Ko-Ko (Graham Weston)

Let me know if you need more... 

John Carter (Press and Publicity)

West Yorkshire Savoyards

(01423 530369/07798 652707)