JORVIK Gilbert and Sullivan Company will present a swashbuckling adventure with tender-hearted pirates and bumbling policemen on their return to the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, from September 22 to 24.

One of G&S's most popular hits, The Pirates Of Penzance tells the tale of Frederic, who, as a child, was apprenticed to a band of pirates by his hard-of-hearing nurse after she misheard her instructions.

The story starts with Frederic celebrating the completion of his 21st year, which means he is now free to return to society and respectability, or so he thinks. Throw into the mix a Major General who knows nothing of military strategy, plus his large family and the timid police force, and G&S stir in all the ingredients for a fun-filled adventure.

Alex Schofield, a regular performer with Jorvik Gilbert and Sullivan Company, is making his directorial debut with this production. "I'm delighted that my first experience of directing is with Jorvik as I've have been with the group for a number of years, and I’m just as delighted that the first show I’m directing is The Pirates of Penzance, as it’s one of my favourites,” he says. “The music, the humour and the twists all make it outstanding.”

Alex continues: “I want it to be an enjoyable and engaging show for everyone, and that starts from the moment they enter the theatre. As such, we're going to help people discover, or re-discover, their inner pirate by giving out a specially created newspaper, with instructions, so that all audience members can make their own pirate hat."

As for the performance style, Alex says: "The aim has been to create a show that shares with someone seeing Pirates for the first time the full quality of the show, while providing those who may have seen it a number of times, or been in it, with something that's interesting and engaging by adding some extra details.”

Alex will be in the cast, as well as directing the show, playing the Sergeant of Police alongside Paul Blenkiron as Major-General Stanley; Mark Simmonds, The Pirate King; James Butterworth, Samuel; Stuart Roberts, Frederic; Clare Rachel Greener, Mabel; Lois Cross, Edith; Karen Kitching, kate; Susan Tempelaar, Isabel, and Georgie Martin, Ruth.

Resident musical director Matthew Collins will be taking up the baton for the final time with the Jorvik group. “We're looking forward to returning to the Rowntree Theatre, following our very well-received performances of H. M. S. Pinafore in 2012, Ruddigore in 2013, Iolanthe in 2014 and Cox & Box and The Sorcerer last year," he says. "With a 20-strong orchestra in the pit complementing a talented cast, this promises to be another very enjoyable production.”

Tickets for the 7.30pm each evening, plus a 2.30pm Saturday matinee at 2.30pm, cost £12, concessions £10, with under 16s free, on 01904 501935 or at josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk. For more information on Jorvik G&S, visit jorvikgsc.org.uk