GILBERT and Sullivan's The Gondoliers comes to Malvern Theatres from Monday, September 9 until Saturday, September 14.

The new production is being presented by Carl Rosa Opera, Britain's longest established opera company.

It will mark a return visit to Malvern for the company, which has previously staged The Mikado, Die Fledermaus, Iolanthe, Yeomen of the Guard and The Pirates of Penzance.

The Gondoliers is a comic operetta about love, marriage and mistaken identity, set in Italy. Well known songs include Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes.

Following its premiere in 1889, it ran for more than 550 performances and was even seen by Queen Victoria at a command performance at Windsor Castle. She later wrote: "the music is quite charming throughout ... and the opening scene really extraordinarily pretty ... I enjoyed the performance very much."

The Gondoliers became Gilbert and Sullivan's second most popular show - after The Mikado - although it been revived less often in recent years.

The light-hearted story is considered the most "topsy turvy" of all W S Gilbert's librettos, with two handsome gondoliers discovering that one of them is the King of Barataria, although no-one knows which. Cast members include Simon Butteriss as the Duke of Plaza-Toro, David Curry as Marco, Bruce Graham as Don Alhambra and Nuala Willis as the Duchess of Plaza-Toro. Performances are at 8pm, with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets are available through the box office on 01684 892277.