YORK Light is to produce Guys And Dolls for the first time in 30 years, and as before the operatic company will be staging Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows' American musical at York Theatre Royal.

Only one member of York Light's original cast will be appearing once again: Geoffrey Turner, who will reprise his role from three decades ago as Sarah Brown's grandfather, Arvide Abernathy, from March 7 to 17.

Two company debutants have been cast in the lead roles, Annabel Van Griethuysen playing the Salvation Army’s Sarah Brown and George Morgan starring as gambler Sky Masterson. Both are experienced players, having appeared in musicals throughout Britain.

Their fellow leads will be company regular Rachael Wilkinson as Miss Adelaide and Andy Roberts as gambler Nathan Detroit, who has had Miss Adelaide dangling on a matrimonial string for 14 years.

Wilkinson latterly has appeared as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, Christmas Eve in Avenue Q and Dorcas in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers; Roberts made his York Light debut in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.

Other principal gambler roles will go to Richard Bayton as Nicely Nicely Johnson; newcomer Pierre Van Griethuysen – Annabel's husband – as his buddy Benny Southstreet; Alasdair Elmes, Rusty Charlie; Jack Porter, Harry the Horse, and Richard Weatherill, Angie the Ox. The leader of the Salvation Army, General Cartwright, will be played by Sally Lewis, last seen as Lady Thaing in The King And I, while Richard Hawley (not the Sheffield one) will be the long-suffering New York police officer Lt Brannigan.

Professional director and choreographer Martyn Knight is at the helm once more, assisted ably by Sue Hawksworth, who is responsible for polishing the cast to a high standard whenever he is absent. Musical director and chorus master John Atkin is in charge of everything musically for the first time and will conduct the orchestra during the two week-run.

Based on two Damon Runyon short stories, The Idyll Of Miss Sarah Brown and Blood Pressure, Guys And Dolls also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably Pick The Winner.

Set in Runyon’s mythical New York City, the show is an "oddball romantic comedy" in which gambler Nathan Detroit, tries to find the cash to set up the biggest crap game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck. Meanwhile, his girlfriend. nightclub performer Adelaide, laments how they have been engaged for 14 years.

Nathan turns to fellow gambler Sky Masterson for the dough, and Masterson ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary Sarah Brown as a result, as the musical travels from the heart of Times Square to the cafés of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong.

Tickets for the 7.30pm evening shows and 2.30pm Saturday matinées are on sale on 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.