I’D forgotten what fun the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas can be. There must have been countless performances of The Mikado in the 133 years since it was first performed, both amateur and professional. But I doubt that any local G&S Society has ever brought more quality and polish to a production than the cast currently performing at the Regent Centre in Christchurch. They are quite simply outstanding.

With so many excellent performances one hesitates to single out individuals, yet it would be would be wrong to fail to award special praise to Richard Haynes as Ko-Ko, alias the Lord High Executioner, to Duncan Reid as Nanki-Poo, to Sally Ager as Yum-Yum, to Julie Gower as Katisha and to Mark Ward as the Mikado.

Their strong confident voices elevated the show to a level of excellence and professionalism that reflects the experience that they have already accumulated in both professional and amateur musical theatre.

But of course none of this would amount to a great production without the combined talents of a capable crew of chorus singers, choreographer (Lucy Kelleher) and of course the director Sarah Vandervelde. Great respect also to Ieuan Davies the musical director and his musicians.

Be very proud of your Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Christchurch, because they too have done you proud this week. And if you can, try to get to this performance before it finishes on Saturday 29th September.