For five years in succession, this enlightened and resourceful Johannesburg-based Northcliff High has toured their annual school musical to The Playhouse in Durban to great acclaim from the press and audiences alike.

The experience of appearing on stage in a professional venue for these young and talented pupils is an immeasurable and memorable one and they offer performances that are youthful and fresh and which entertain and delight.

Audiences at past productions have marvelled at the calibre and maturity of performance coming from these young enthusiasts and have given nothing but high praise for entertainment of the highest order.

This year they explore the delights of Gilbert and Sullivan in one of the most popular of that collection, The Mikado. It includes ridiculous characters such Nanki-Poo (the son of the Mikado disguised as a “wand’ring minstrel”), Yum-Yum, Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo (the three little maids from school), Ko-Ko (the lord high executioner) and Pooh-Bah (the lord high everything else).

Under a thin Japanese guise, the show pokes fun at the English, abounds in delicious nonsense and delightful melody and is two hours of fun and song in the best tradition of musical comedy.

Audiences who saw last year’s Oklahoma! will recognise Samantha Cartwright (who played Ado Annie) as Yum-Yum, Daniel Botha (who played Will Parker) as Ko-Ko and scene stealing Jonathan Roxmouth (who played Ali Hakim the peddler) as Pooh-Bah.

Performances take place on June 25, 27 and 28 at 19h30 and on June 29 at 15h00. There are matinee performances on June 25 and 28 at 14h30. Booking is at Computicket

A special schools morning matinee will be held on June 26 at 10h00. Enquiries to 083 744 37545.