A highlight of this year's Newbury Festival will be London Operetta's acclaimed production of The Pirates of Penzance from Scratch, writes NICOLA LISLE

If you are a Gilbert and Sullivan enthusiast and are looking to give your vocal chords a bit of a workout, then The Pirates of Penzance from Scratch, to be staged at Newbury's Corn Exchange this weekend, could be just what you're looking for.

It doesn't matter whether you are an experienced amateur or someone whose singing is usually confined to the bathroom all you need is lots of enthusiasm. So if you have fancied being a pirate, a policeman, or one of Major General Stanley's implausibly large family, then here's your chance.

Pirates is one of three Savoy operas to have been given the "from scratch" treatment by London Operetta the other two are Trial by Jury and HMS Pinafore since the company was founded exactly 20 years ago.

"It's all about fun and audience participation," explained Ian McMillan, who devised the format for G&S from Scratch and directs all the performances.

"As far as I know, there's nobody else mad enough or brave enough to galvanise the audience into joining in the fun. People tell me it's a skill, but I've had a lot of experience of working with choral societies and operatic societies over the years, so it's really the fun element of it that they can't refuse.

"And there's still a big market for G&S. The tunes are great and it's part of our national heritage."

One of the attractions of the 'scratch' performances is the chance to sing alongside professional soloists, who are drawn from companies as diverse as D'Oyly Carte, Carl Rosa, Opera della Luna, Glyndebourne, Scottish Opera, ENO and the National Opera Studio.

"We tend to go for the D'Oyly Carters because they already have the traditional style steeped in them, and they know their stuff," Ian said. "But we take on new singers all the time. So now we're working with them alongside the seasoned performers, and they're learning the traditional style."

The longest-serving "seasoned performer" is former D'Oyly Carte veteran John Ayldon, who was principal bass-baritone with the company from 1969 until its demise in 1982. Now in his sixties, he enjoys emerging from his semi-retirement for the 'scratch' performances. What's the appeal for him, I wondered?

"It's always beautifully costumed, the sets look fabulous and the audiences are terrific," he said. "We can have fun and get the audience going. And I'm working with people I like working with that's always a bonus. With the D'Oyly Carte, I had a lot of artistic freedom and my performances now are based on what I did with the D'Oyly Carte. But I can ad lib and involve the audience a lot more."

Anyone familiar with the old D'Oyly Carte will be surprised to discover that John is not playing the Pirate King in this production, as you might expect, but the Police Sergeant. Was this his choice?

"Yes, it was. I played the Pirate King for so many years with the D'Oyly Carte I thought it would be good to have a change. Also, although on paper the Police Sergeant looks like a cameo role, I do a complete routine with the audience which lasts about 15 minutes. They act as chorus behind me, and I judge whether they're singing well or not. If they're not, I make them do it again!"

Joining John in Newbury will be Louise Crane (Ruth), Stephen Brown (Frederic), Mark Siney (Major General), Rebecca Rudge (Mabel) and Richard Woodall (Pirate King). And, of course, you, the audience-cum-chorus. So, what are you letting yourselves in for?

"I rehearse the audience for about an hour, then after the interval the costumed principals join us to do a semi-staged performance," explained Ian. "I do move the audience around a bit, which always scares the stage manager and Front of House staff.

"I try and break down the fact that we're in a theatre or concert hall. So for Pirates I'll say: Welcome to a beach somewhere near Penzance.' Being small scale, we have a simple set, which works well wherever we are. In Pirates, we have a sandy-coloured carpet and beach huts with a blue wash at the back. So it's quite colourful.

"We do a reduced score, to make it more accessible. A lot of conductors will get upset that the harmonies are not working, but I consider that a bonus. A lot of Pirates is unison anyway, so that's quite useful."

The Pirates of Penzance is at the Newbury Corn Exchange on Sunday at 3pm. Other festival attractions include the Soweto Gospel Choir, Academy of Ancient Music, Piccadilly Dance Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra, featuring the popular soprano Susan Bullock. For further details, call 01635 522733 or visit www.newburyspringfestival.org.uk For further information about Gilbert and Sullivan from Scratch, call 01923 331115.