YORKSHIRE actor and director Graham Weston hopes to have the audience spellbound when he takes to the stage in a production of The Sorceror at Victoria Hall in Settle on Saturday.

Graham plays the title role in Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera, The Sorcerer, which is being staged by the West Yorkshire Savoyards theatre company.

Directed by Alistair Donkin, the magical show contains some of the finest melodies Arthur Sullivan ever wrote and his first major success with WS Gilbert.

It tells the story of starry-eyed young lovers Alexis and Aline, who wish everyone in their village could be as happily besotted as they are.

In a moment of inspiration, they hire John Wellington Wells from a highly respectable London firm of sorcerers to brew a love potion for their fellow citizens.

It remains only to slip the potion into the tea at the wedding feast and hilarity, strange infatuations and social satire all ensue.

Graham, from Barnsley, who performs across the country, says playing John Wellington Wells is one of his favourite roles.

West Yorkshire Savoyards' touring cast includes Manchester soprano Helen Fieldsend, who plays Aline, Leon Waksburg who plays Alexis, and acclaimed baritone and character actor, David Parker, who plays Dr Daly. Valerie Green plays Lady Sangazure while Bobbie Greatorex will play Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre.

The orchestra for the show will be under the baton of Oliver Longstaff.

The company has received the backing of TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh, who 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 WYS high standards, any audience can be assured of a great show."

Tickets for the Victoria Hall show, which starts at 7.30pm, cost £15 plus the usual concessions. They are available by ringing 01729 825718.