LAUGHS and topical humour are guaranteed when Weymouth Operatic Society takes to the stage this week with its latest production.

The award-winning group is staging Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore and director Geoff King has extended the show and made sure it is retold with a modern twist.

He explained: “I have re-written the script quite a bit and have added some modern humour as well as a bit of other music from other G&S operettas.

“HMS Pinafore is quite short and usually staged with Trial by Jury but rather than potting it I decided to extend it.”

The show opens with the crew of HMS Pinafore sprucing up the deck for the arrival of Sir Joseph Porter, a high-ranking admiral.

They buy some goods from a peddler called Little Buttercup – who Geoff has renamed DD Cup – and we learn that deckhand Ralph Rackstraw is in love with fair Josephine, the daughter of the ship’s captain.

Unfortunately, her father believes Ralph is too lowly for his girl and wants her to marry the Admiral, but DD Cup knows a secret that might change all that.

The lead roles have been taken by James Neilson as the Admiral, Stella Brading as Josephine, Patrick Sutton as Ralph, Helen Pickard as DD Cup and Alex Lyons as the captain.

HMS Pinafore is in Hope Church, Trinity Street, Weymouth from tomorrow until May 11, with performances at 7.30pm. Tickets are £6 from members, The T Shop near Hope Church or at the door on the night.