Gilbert & Sullivan for today

Buy photos » Interest you in a magic potion? - Keith Norfolk (John Wellington Wells), Liz West (Aline), and Mike Hansford (Alexis) in The Sorcerer. (s)

RUGBY Operatic Society offer a double bill of topical Gilbert and Sullivan.

Trial by Jury is a satire on the need for juries, at a time when the government is consulting on whether the country need juries any more.

The antics of the G&S jury is hardly likely to convince of their value, while the prosecuting barrister is under the impression marrying two women at the same time is burglary.

The Sorcerer, looks at the idea of happiness, just as recent surveys have been trying to find where in the UK people are the happiest.

Alexis hires a magician to make everyone in a village ecstatically in love and happy-ever-after with a love potion, but inevitably there are problems.

Anne Boulton, the chairman of the Rugby Operatic Society, said: "We're having a great time getting this double-bill ready, and after the hugely-popular Pinafore and Iolanthe in the last two years, directed by Judi Walton and David King, we hope big audiences will come to Trial and Sorcerer to see their latest inspiration."

The productions can be seen at

Rugby Theatre, from February 14 to 18, from 7.30 pm. Tickets are priced £12.50 (concessions Tuesday to Thursday £11, students £6).