Now re-named and with a new agenda, they have joined the merry host of musical theatre companies in Leighton-Linslade - and surrounding villages.

So where do G&S buffs get their regular 'fixes' now? The occasional school/amateur company production, Bedfordshire Youth Opera, film and DVD, the D'Oyley Carte and . . . with Leighton Buzzard Children's Theatre.

LBCT staged The Mikado not only to the delight of the audience but also to raise cash for Cancer Research UK.

Director Sally Allsopp, a drama teacher at Vandyke, had made the most of the black shiny circular stage arena and crimson velvet curtains with a delicately tasteful set of crimson drapes, oriental flowers, parasols and huge fans with a floral bower containing a bench.

Authentically costumed with wonderful wigs, hats and hair decorations, LBCT senior students brought colour, character and charisma to each scene and a mature standard to choruses and choreography.

G&S is traditionally a challenge: comic lyrics sung and spoken at speed and with essential perfect diction or the many quick-fire plots are missed. Those wonderful 'classics' "Three Little Maids from School", "I've Got a Little List", "The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring tra-la" never fail to raise a smile.

Confident, accomplished soloists with mature vocal and comedy timing brought roars of laughter. James Leaver (Ko-Ko), Joe Parslow (Pish Tush), Matthew Lee (Pooh Bah) and Adam Smart (Nanki-Poo) were just outstanding! Yum-Yum (Eleanor Cloake) maintained a beautifully feminine but at times assertive and haughty presence. Katisha (Emer Downey) inter-weaved with sophisticated grace with soloists and chorus. Edward Percival as The Mikado was utterly superb.

So many people just "don't do opera" and really should give G&S comic operas an airing. Many are fast paced, 'laugh out loud,' swinging comedy romps. And with a young company production such as this, you will never look back, such is the zesty spirited enthusiasm experienced.

Details of this and the senior students' July Leavers' Show (both unmissable!) are on www.lbct.org.