The Malden Community Choir is set to stage Gilbert and Sullivan’s much loved comic opera HMS Pinafore as part of the Malden Fortnight, writes Marian Borges.

Local conductor Celia Cviic will lead the Malden Centre Community Choir for a single performance in the Methodist Church on Wednesday night.

David Smith, the event organiser, said: “At the time that Gilbert and Sullivan wrote the opera it was very sarcastic and raunchy – they were the Monty Python of their time.”

“It gives people a great deal of confidence taking part in something like this,” said Ms Cviic.

“They are a real community and they are great to work with. I would really encourage people to join."

The cast is made up of 10 men and 23 women and will include Ms Cviic’s children, Antonia and Stephen, who are professional singers.

The local troupe meets every week to practice and have a basic budget to stage the performance.

Mr Smith said: “This will be our fourth Gilbert and Sullivan and the other three sold out. Last year we had a number of people get quite upset at the door because they missed out.”

Tickets are available from the Malden Centre in Blagdon Road and cost £7.50.