SWINDON Gilbert and Sullivan Society actors are about to undertake the ghostly tale of Ruddigore, and are hoping for members old and new to join them.

The first rehearsal is on Tuesday, September 1, at 7.30pm, in the Wroughton Workingmen’s Club, Devizes Road, Wroughton.

Following in the illustrious footsteps of members of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company the Swindon group will tackle the tale of witches and ghosts, love and curses, following their successful run of the Mikado back in May.

Ruddigore was first performed at the Savoy Theatre in London in 1887, but it did not go down as well as its predecessor, The Mikado. But it was still profitable so it was kept as one of the Savoy operas.

Julia Fry, from the Swindon Gilbert and Sullivan Society, said: “It is a creepier show than our last, but still a lot of fun with typical Gilbert and Sullivan silliness."

The Mikado was performed at Swindon’s Arts Centre with Derek Hill as director and Richard Abrams as musical director.

Last year the group brought the canals of Venice to Swindon in their version of The Gondoliers starring Stuart Benjamin.

Ruddigore is centred around a curse that was called down upon the first Baronet, who had persecuted witches back in the dark ages, and the consequences for his unfortunate descendants.

Julia said: “We are hoping to attract a few new members to take part. I’ve always had a soft spot for the chorus of Professional Bridesmaids frantically trying to find a wedding before they get the sack."

The society is also on the lookout for help backstage (anything from prompting to building sets) or front-of-house selling programmes and ticketsas well as talented musicians.

The society meets every Tuesday at 7.30pm and all are welcome. For more details visit swindongilbertandsullivan.weebly.com.

— FLICKY HARRISON