HEREFORD Gilbert & Sullivan Operatic Society returns to the Courtyard next month with a sumptuous, traditional production of Johann Strauss's Die Fledermaus.

It is the first of two productions at the venue in the society's 60th anniversary year. In July, it will present its 60th anniversary concert of stage vocal music covering the period from early Gilbert & Sullivan up to Lloyd Webber.

Die Fledermaus (The Bat) is set in late 19th century Vienna and is a farce set to wonderful music. As Hereford G&S Society chairman Peter Rowberry said: "Die Fledermaus is arguably the finest of the younger Strauss's 16 operettas. It has laughter, practical jokes, mistaken identities and delicious revenge - as well as one of the repertoire's most famous overtures and some wonderful duets and choruses."

Peter is one of the leading principals in the show playing the character of Falke, whose nickname is the bat. The story is about how he wreaks revenge by playing a trick on his philandering old friend, Gabriel Eisenstein, who had embarrassed Falke as they were returning home from a fancy dress ball dressed respectively as a bat and a butterfly some years previously.

Cliff Spooner returns as the gullible Gabriel Eisenstein, with Linda Jackson as his wife Rosalinde. Adele, Rosalinde's maid, is played by Laura Durman, who has the honour of singing the well-known laughing song'.

Comic fun is introduced by Adrian Shakeshaft, who plays the exuberant and very, very Italian tenor, Alfredo, Rosalinde's lover. As one member of the cast observed during rehearsals: "When Adrian is singing Alfredo, you can almost smell the pasta!"

Musical director Alan Durman takes up the baton for the first time, rather than taking a major singing role, although he still manages to appear on stage in a cameo role.

"The sparkling music has made sure it has become the most played piece from the 19th century Viennese tradition," Alan said.

"I remember seeing the piece a few years ago at the Vienna Volksoper on my first visit to the wonderful city. The size of the orchestra was incredible and they stopped the whole show in the middle of the party scene, for a ballet based on The Blue Danube."

The production is being directed once again by professional singer and actor Martyn Harrison, who has experience of performing with the New Doyly Carte, Glyndebourne Festival Opera and Sadler's Wells.

It is commendible that the society has survived 60 years, having outlived several of the theatres it has made home. Since 1999 it has enjoyed a relationship with Hereford's Courtyard, where it performs its annual show.

The society has formed strong links with both of Hereford's twin towns - Dillenburg in Germany and Vierzon in France, and members support local charities by singing at functions throughout the year.

Die Fledermaus is at the Courtyard from March 20-24. There will also be a Saturday matinee performance, which will be audio described for people with eyesight problems. Tickets are available from the Courtyard on 0870 1122330, online at www.courtyard.org.uk and at the Hereford Tourist Information Office, King Street, Hereford.