BLACKBURN Gilbert and Sullivan Society is inviting audiences to join its members on a trip to the warm shores of Venice from February 22 to 26.

The company is staging the G&S operetta The Gondoliers - a show it last produced in 1973.

Set in the Italian city of Venice in the 1780s, the show tells the story of the young bride of the heir to the throne of Barataria who arrives in Venice to join her husband.

But, he cannot be identified – having been entrusted to the care of a drunken gondolier who mixed up the prince with his own son.

With the king having just died, the two young gondoliers must now rule the kingdom until the rightful king can be found.

To make matters even more complicated, they have recently married local girls – and she is actually in love with another man.

Society spokeswoman Anne Rigby said: “This show offers some of Sullivan's catchiest music, with superb scenery and some of the best-loved songs in any G&S opera, for instance, the fantastic tenor aria Take A Pair Of Sparkling Eyes.

“And of course, being G&S, they all live happily ever after.”

* The Gondoliers, Blackburn G&S Society, Thwaites Empire Theatre, from Tuesday, February 22 until Saturday, February 26. 7.30pm. Tickets from the theatre on 01254 685500 and on the door.