Iolanthe is very much one of “The Big Four”, as regards Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous light operettas. It combines great tunes with an intricate storyline, half a fairy, lots of full fairies, a blushing Ward of Court, a susceptible Lord Chancellor and seemingly most of the House of Lords – plus a rather chivalrous guardsman. Inevitably, they all get their respective lives into a frightful tangle!

Iolanthe’s words and music are so strong that they are often performed “in concert” and that is what a party of us is going to see this July, performed by the highly-regarded Buckingham Choral Society, in Buckingham Parish Church.

A leading light of the Society is our own Court Assistant Miles Hedges, who a number of us saw in an outstanding performance of The Mikado in the same location, a few years ago.

The concert starts at 7.30pm, so we are going to meet for a “theatre supper” beforehand at 5.45pm, at the well-regarded Prego (a good, family-run Italian restaurant), which is just a short walk from the church.

Tickets cost £70, to include the meal, (reasonable!) drinks, and tickets to the concert.

There are only ten places, so early booking is advisable.