BRINGING a much-welcome taste of Mediterranean sunshine to Settle’s Victoria Hall Theatre on Saturday, September 9 are the West Yorkshire Savoyards.

The 'Savs' are making a welcome return with their touring production of ‘The Gondoliers’, one of the most popular operas to come from the partnership of WS Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan.

A spokesperson for the West Yorkshire Savoyards said: "Sullivan’s sparkling music and Gilbert’s humorous plot twists and topsy turvy wit, combined with colourful costumes, lively dances and beautiful melodies, and accompanied by a professional orchestra, are guaranteed to make people leave the theatre with a smile on your face.

"The Gondoliers, which is touring Yorkshire, is pure joy from start to finish. It was a huge favourite with Queen Victoria, despite satirising the ruling classes and their position within society, with the tale of two happy-go-lucky gondoliers who discover that one of them is the heir to the throne of a distant kingdom. In a show packed full of fun, the gondoliers set off to rule with an idealistic – if somewhat chaotic – plan."

The ‘Savs’, a Gilbert and Sullivan touring company made up of hand-picked singers and musicians from across the north of England, have been delighting audiences and building up a following throughout Yorkshire and abroad for many years.

This year the Victoria Hall - the oldest surviving music hall in the UK - welcomes them back again under the direction of Graham Weston with the orchestra under the musical direction of Oliver Longstaff.

The company has received the backing of TV presenter, journalist and gardener, Alan Titchmarsh, has 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 (Stephen Sondheim considers him the best of all lyricists), coupled with the W.Y.S. high standards, any audience can be assured of a great night out!”

Tickets are £5 for accompanied young people under 16, and £17 for adults. Available online at the Victoria Hall Box Office, in person, or on the door https://www.settlevictoriahall.org.uk