VILLAGERS in Hellifield turned out for three-sell out performances of the comic opera The Pirates of Penzance.

Put on by village choir, The Helisingers, it was a much larger venture than the group's usual productions, and proved to be a great success. It ran from Thursday, March 21 to March 23 at the village institute and was put together by Sue Alderson and a team of cast members and backstage crew.

The Pirates of Penzance is one of Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular comic operas and tells the story of 21 year old Frederic, played by Ian Gray, who joins a band of tender hearted pirates, led by the pirate king, played by Frank Birkett.

The show raised funds for Hellifield Institute. The group will meet again when practices start again on the May 17.