Okay, I'll admit it, theatre isn't really my thing. I've been to a few shows mainly as a kid, but my mum saw the poster for this and got all excited, so I thought I'd treat her and give it a go.

I thought I'd be the youngest there by at least 30 years, but we were pleasantly surprised to see a few young 'uns there in half-term week.

For those, like me, who aren't au fait with G&S, the brief storyline of Gondoliers goes a bit like this; a couple of Venetian gondoliers marry local girls, then a chap called the Grand Inquisitor turns up and tells them one of them is a prince, about to be king, who was entrusted as a baby to a drunk gondolier who mixed him up with his own son, and the only person who knows who's who is the prince's nurse, who is on her way over to sort out the whole thing.

Then it's revealed that the said prince was married in babyhood to the baby daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Plaza-Toro (Clive McCoy and Brenda Murray), but she is in love with her father's attendant.

Following? It's easier to pick up on stage, once you get your head around the archaic 1700s language.

Most of this play, put on by the Blackburn Gilbert and Sullivan Society is set as the two 'brothers' (Jim Lancaster and Jonathan Scadding) are allowed to rule together until the correct king is identified.

As you can imagine a couple of lowly gondoliers who are suddenly catapulted into fortune have a right old time, inviting all their mates round for dances, banquets and all that jazz, until the Grand Inquisitor (Anthony Flanagan) sees what they're up to and gives them a ticking off for not being dignified leaders.

This role was played brilliantly and Flanagan's dead-pan expressions during the men's antics raised several chuckles during the evening.

There were a few modern quips thrown in too, like the gondolier getting a fixed penalty notice slapped on it, and the two ruling brothers being likened to Cameron and Clegg.

Brenda Murray did a sterling job as Duchess, notably during the scene where she played an inebriated wife and mother, staggering about the stage and slurring her words.

But the unexpected highlight for me was the quality of the vocal performances.

The excellent chorus line, gondoliers and everyone in between did much more than just hold a tune; they really made the performance.

There were very few signs of first night nerves too, with only a couple of minor stumbles that were hardly noticed.

After a slow start, I really got into it. To anyone wondering if they would enjoy it, give it a try, I'm sure you will.

* Until Saturday. 7.30pm. Tickets 01254 685500 and on the door.