STAGING Gilbert & Sullivan usually involves turning the topsy-turvy plots of yesteryear into reality. The second season of Harrogate-based The National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company opened with the massive Harrogate International Centre car park empty because the electronic signs were stuck on “full” and scores of elderly London day-trippers opting to leave the opening performance of The Gondoliers half-an-hour early because they’d booked the wrong train time.

As I sit down to discuss these events with director John Savournin and cast members Richard Gauntlett, Bruce Graham and Bishop Auckland chorus member Steven Fawell – with this show, The Mikado and HMS Pinafore about to tour to Darlington Civic Theatre – we are asked to leave the building’s foyer by one of HIC’s senior members of staff.

Fortunately, Savournin stands his ground, quite literally, and you could almost hear the ghosts of Sir William and Sir Arthur laughing as we finally sit down to discuss the bizarre events of the day so far.

“Hopefully, this will be the one and only time that the audience gets up in the middle of a performance en masse and exits. At least we know it was no reflection on the performance,” jokes Savournin about The Gondoliers’ attendance sinking in numbers.

He feels that the view of G&S appealing to older people is changing.

“I think with all of these things we go through cycles and it is definitely something that attracts the older generation, but that’s not to say there isn’t an interest from a younger theatre-goer. Lots of performances I’ve been involved with in recent years have seen a good mix of audiences. Saturday matinee will always be reserved for a certain age of clientele, but that’s not across the board by any stretch of the imagination,” Savournin says.

He’s seen as a rising star of G&S production and has a young-looking cast of 35 and the might of the National Festival Orchestra supporting a company which has taken over the mantle of the D’Oyly Carte since 1994; switched from Buxton to Harrogate last year and opted to expand its touring programme this year.

“We attract people by audition and reputation, but what has been nice with this group is that a lot have come to G&S completely new and I know have find they love it very much and are looking forward to the festival and the tour that follows. They’ve been bitten by the bug,” says Savournin.

Is there a pecking order of G&S when it comes to creating a touring programme?

“If a venue is taking our company for the first time then the titles of the operas hold a lot of sway. I think it’s about judging when that audience is able to take a less popular work because they all have great strengths and should all be seen. It’s about tailoring the market as time goes on,” he says.

We are joined by G&S veteran Bruce Graham, who plays Don Alhambra Del Bolero (Gondoliers), Pooh-Bah (Mikado) and Dick Deadeye (Pinafore) who jokes about his 52 years of performing “being pathetic”.

“Isn’t it time I stopped?” he jokes. “I think G&S has recently has had a critical and musical-logical reappraisal, but that hasn’t quite carried on to the general public. Not quite. Wherever you go now you’ve got to do The Mikado haven’t you... and something else.”

Fellow arrival Richard Gauntlett, the patter-man of The Duke of Plaza-Toro (Gondoliers), Ko-Ko (Mikado) and The Rt. Hon Sir Joseph Porter KCB (Pinafore) feels that the grading system goes down from Mikado to Grand Duke.

Graham is old enough to recall when The Gondoliers was the show being booked for the most performances. “When I was younger The Gondoliers was second only to The Mikado and now our tour is a chance for audiences to become acquainted with it because it’s no longer the case that The Gondoliers is in the top two,” he says.

The other debate involves whether or not you update the Victorian plots of G&S.

“I think you try and keep them contemporary and relevant while still respecting the pieces. I think if you lose the respect for the plots and make them a showcase for a load of West End Wendys or turn it into Italia Conti’s end of term bash I don’t think it works,” says Graham.

“Change for the sake of change doesn’t work,” agrees Gauntlett.

Savournin was keen to make The Gondoliers a fresh and energetic evening’s entertainment, while respecting the original material.

Gauntlett reveals that “the list” (the famous rant of Ko-Ko in Mikado of people he’s keen to execute) will be updated as always for Darlington.

“The list will change nightly depending on what happens. If something big happens, or nobody laughs it will change. If it’s funny it won’t be cut,” he says.

There is a touch of the late John Inman about his performance and Gauntlett says: “That’s a great complement because John was a friend of mine and a great hero. He was a brilliantly accomplished panto dame and a great performer. He was very light of foot and skipped a lot for a boy.”

The performer even managed a quick ad-lib when the 200 audience members got up to leave at 5pm that day.

“It’s not every day that hundreds of people depart like this,” he says.

First encounters with G&S for the cast turns out to involve Iolanthe in most cases. Gauntlett’s mother was pregnant with him while playing the title role and his father was the Lord Chancellor.

Graham’s best friend’s dad was in the local am-dram and he got dragged along every year to see the matinee. “Generally I loathed it and, suddenly, one year I loved it and I must have been ready for it and I’ve been hooked ever since. And that was Iolanthe,” he says recalling that he then saw Bishop Auckland G&S legend John Reed performing in the same show with the D’Oyly Carte.

On the future of G&S and Harrogate there is room for debate. Graham feels that Buxton’s smaller auditorium was a better fit than the HIC’s Royal Hall 1,000-strong seating.

“But the Royal Hall lends itself nicely to the material and I think if we are still here in two or three years then we will find that we’ve taken root,” adds Savournin.

Thankfully, says Graham, the material is too good to die... “a bit like me”.

n Darlington Civic Theatre runs The National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company tour from September 15 to 19. The Mikado on 15 and 16, HMS Pinafore 17 and The Gondoliers 18 and 19. Box Office: 01325-486555 and darlingtoncivic.co.uk