MARTON Operatic Society will be putting in a platinum performance this month as they celebrate 70 sensational years on stage.

A double bill of Gilbert and Sullivan will be on stage at St Paul's Parish Hall and a lucky Citizen reader can enjoy the fun of Trial By Jury and HMS Pinafore absolutely free thanks to another cracking competition from your favourite weekly newspaper.

Trial By Jury is a short entertaining operetta based in a courtroom, with the jilted bride taking her groom to court for a breach of promise to marriage. Society chairman Ken Dagger said: "It's a little gem of an opera," and Ken himself will don robes to play the judge with Tara Dempsey as the bride.

About his other choice, Ken added: "HMS Pinafore is a lively and popular show with Gilbert taking a satirical swipe at the British class system. His rapier wit comes to the fore in Pinafore! He really has a go at the class system in the Navy.

"These operettas are also an ideal introduction to anyone new to G&S." Marton Operatic was founded in 1930 and has now established itself as a leading G&S Society.

This year's show is produced by Carol Lawrance and musical director is Tim Dagger.

To snap up two free tickets simply answer the following question?

In what year was Marton Operatic Society formed?

Send your answer on a postcard, including a daytime telephone number, to: The Citizen, St Annes Buildings, Clifton Drive North, St Annes On Sea, FY8 2NA, to arrive no later than November 9. Usual Citizen rules apply. The winner will get two tickets for the Saturday show.

The shows run from November 7-11 at the Parish Hall, Preston Old Road, Marton, from 7.30pm.

For tickets -- £5 for adults and £4 for children -- or further details, call Sheila Pund on 694856 or visit the box office at Whitegate Music Centre, 256 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool.