AWARD winning theatre company Illyyria will be presenting the Gilbert and Sullivan favorite HMS Pinafore on Bridport’s atmospheric Millennium Green on August 14.

Set on board the warship HMS Pinafore, the opera cheerfully mocks such Great British institutions as class, patriotism and the Royal Navy.

Josephine, the captain’s daughter, is in love with Ralph, a common sailor, but her father wants her to marry Sir Joseph Porter, First Lord of the Admiralty.

The couple are caught as they elope from the ship and Ralph is locked in the ship’s dungeon.

Only when certain revelations are made by Buttercup, a dockside vendor, can everyone end up freely marrying their true hearts’ loves.

Oliver Gray, the director and artistic director of Illyria, said: “It’s a wonderful play to do.

“I was brought up with very worthy and dull productions of Gilbert and Sullivan but it needs to be done with a light touch and can be an awful lot of fun.

“People get wound up about the story or the singing or the music but there is so much fun to be had with G&S.

“The characters are bright and funny and silly and the satire is bubbly.

“It is all about the class system and how you can travel up and down it. It mocks all things British – and we are never happier than when we are taking the mickey out of ourselves. I think it strikes a chord with people.”

HMS Pinafore is one of three shows that Illyria are touring this summer. They have already brought Henry V to Bridport and are elsewhere in the UK with the Roald Dahl story The Twits, which is perfect for family audiences.

Oliver said: “It has been more difficult this year with the weather.

“British people are renowned for complaining about the weather and joking about outdoor theatre but in fact what usually happens is that it rains during the day but is dry in the evening.

“However, this year we have been drenched but the atmosphere is one of ‘we’re all in this together’ and it has been just brilliant, a real Dunkirk spirit.”

The show starts at 7pm and tickets are available from Bridport Arts Centre priced £14/ £12 member/ £10 concessions/ £40 family.

Call 01308 424204 or visit bridport-arts.com for further information.