The picturesque Cornish village of Rederring is surely the only place on earth to have its own troupe of professional bridesmaids.

Add to this delightful piece of nonsense the simpering Rose Maybud, a village maiden inseparable from her little book of etiquette; a character known as Mad Margaret and an aristocratic family whose heir to the title, Baronet of Ruddigore, is cursed to commit a crime every day.

We are unmistakably in the enchanting topsy-turvy world of Gilbert and Sullivan.

Ruddigore, sometimes known as ‘Bloodygore’, was panned by many critics of the day. Extensive revision followed the 1887 premiere at London’s Savoy Theatre before Ruddigore eventually returned to the repertoire of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company in December 1920.

Opera North’s production recreates the version of the musical score which both Gilbert and Sullivan finally settled upon. The company reckons that it is 120 years since this ‘definitive’ version has been performed. Amongst other restored gems are the lovely duet for Rose Maybud and Richard Dauntless, ‘the battle’s roar is over’, and the ‘Basingstoke’ patter finale.

Since the original D’Oyly Carte Opera Company’s sad demise in 1982, a new generation of creative talent has blossomed, freed of performance customs stipulated by WS Gilbert himself and perpetuated by the Carte.

There is of course no logical reason why a degree of artistic licence with the staging of a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta should be tantamount to altering a precious Grade 1 listed building without consent. Thus the young creative partnership of director Jo Davies and conductor John Wilson have dumped any accumulated baggage and imparted to this glossy new production a dynamism and sparkle likely to win converts of all ages to G & S in general, and to this hitherto underrated Savoy opera in particular. Although the action has been updated from the period of the Napoleonic Wars to the 1920s, W S Gilbert’s libretto has withstood the test of time and hardly a word has been changed - save for a handful of amusing references to the MPs’ expenses scandal. An outstanding cast drawn from Opera North’s ensemble delivers star performances from just about everyone, but especially Grant Doyle (Robin Oakapple), Richard Burkhard (Sir Despard Murgatroyd), Hal Cazalet (Richard Dauntless), Amy Freston (Rose Maybud), Richard Angas (Old Adam Goodheart), Heather Shipp (Mad Margaret), Anne-Marie Owens (Dame Hannah) and Steven Page (Sir Roderic Murgatroyd).

Every syllable of the libretto, whether spoken or sung, is made to sound as fresh as if the ink had just finished drying on Gilbert’s manuscripts.

Sets and costumes are stunning: the Cornish coastal village in Act One imbued with the atmosphere of a genteel 1920s seaside resort.

Act Two is quite simply spellbinding and reeks of Victorian Gothic horror during the build-up to the ghostly ancestors of the present bad Baronet of Ruddigore stepping out of their portraits. It’s an absolute corker of a production, vintage G & S indeed!

More performances at Leeds Grand on Feb 12, 13 (matinee), 17 and 20.