Swindon singers who fancy trying their hands at one of the Savoy operas should tune up their voices ready to audition.

Swindon Gilbert and Sullivan Society is looking for singers and actors to take part in the next production which will be the Yeoman of the Guard.

Auditions are being held on Sunday, October 9 in the Wroughton Workingmen's Club, Devizes Road.

Leading roles on offer include Sir Richard Cholmondley, (Lieutenant of the Tower of London), Sgt Meryll, (Yeoman of the Guard) Colonel Fairfax (officer under sentence of death), Leonard Meryll (Sgt Meryll's son), Jack Point (Jester) and Wilfred (Head jailer).

Julia Fryer from the society said: "The show needs a lot of strong soloists as some of the music can be challenging. Good, dramatic actors are also needed.''

The opera has 10 male soloists and four women. There will be a chorus line but these singers do not need to audition, musicians are wanted, plus backstage crew, anything from prompting to building sets, or front-of-house staff for selling programmes and tickets.

Yeoman of the Guard is the 11th opera in which Gilbert and Sullivan combined their talents and it is the darkest, most emotionally charged of their collaborations, set in the Tower of London.

This adaptation of the opera, under the guiding hand of producer Derek Hill, will be performed during the first week in April 2017 at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon, and rehearsals will be held each Tuesday from 7.30pm.

At the audition singers will be put through their paces by the director, musical director and a panel of judges.

Julia said: "There is no need to bring props to the audition. As the show is set in Tudor times and the clothes were very elaborate, we will hire in the costumes. It is a great show for the men who get to dress up as Yeoman and carry spears. It features all kinds of skullduggery and schemes but is definitely one for the opera lover.''

For more details of joining the society or auditioning for Yeoman of the Guard visit www.swindongilbertandsullivan.weebly.com - Flicky Harrison