It is the longest-running and most famous musical written in Britain and rarely a day goes by without someone, somewhere putting on a production.

But if you want to see a fully-staged, professional performance with £250,000 worth of sets and costumes on display, then be at the Theatre Royal, Brighton, this coming week.

The Mikado was written in 1885 by Gilbert and Sullivan and was an instant hit.

Sullivan's jolly music and Gilbert's cutting and comic songs were an irresistible combination.

The Brighton production is by one of the most famous names in the world of opera and operetta, the Carl Rosa Opera Company.

Formed in the last half of the 19th Century, it toured widely in Britain and overseas until the end of the Fifties when it closed, although a trust was set up to preserve its name and its archives.

Reformed four years ago, the company has once again been winning huge audiences and critical acclaim.

Artistic director Peter Mulloy explained: "What we are offering is an evening of popular entertainment, with great singing and great music and more than a few laughs.

"G&S production went through something of a crisis in the post-war period when the copyright was such that everything had to be done exactly as Gilbert and Sullivan had instructed.

"This led to many dull productions. Songs such as The Executioner's List could not be rewritten and there were very firm instructions about how and where people could move on stage.

"Once copyright ran out, there were some great breakthroughs. The Broadway production of The Pirates Of Penzance took away all the stuffiness of the show and other versions followed suit.

"Four years ago, when the Carl Rosa company was re-formed, I was asked to go back to the traditional version and now that runs alongside the perhaps more outrageous versions.

"But we are far from stuffy. We remind people of Gilbert's great way with words and deliver all of Sullivan's wonderful music."

Call 01273 328488 for tickets or more information.

The evening performances start at 7.45pm and the Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.