An up-and-coming operatic store is set to sprinkle a little bit of stardust on a new production at Norwich's Maddermarket Theatre at the start of next month.

Young professional tenor Martin Milnes will play a principle part in the Wroxham-based East Norfolk Operatic Society's comic opera, Princess Ida.

Martin has performed at the International G&S Festival in Buxton, Derbyshire, where his first specialist spin-off show, The Falsetto Sings Gilbert & Sullivan, was sold out.

Last year, he returned to The Pheasantry in Chelsea with The Falsetto and he has also performed at the Thursford Christmas Spectacular in the past as well.

Martin will join the society's cast at the Maddermarket Theatre, from Wednesday, May 2 to Saturday, May 5, to play the role of Hilarion.

Larry Pendleton, spokesman for the society and a member of its male chorus, said: 'We were short of a tenor and one of our members knew Martin. I didn't know a great deal about him at first but now I've read a lot about him and he will be coming to join our rehearsals.

'We've been rehearsing for six months so its going to be a lot for him to take on in two weeks, but I believe he knows the part well already.'

With music by Sir Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, Princess Ida is the story of a princess who establishes a women's university and teaches that women are superior to men and should rule in their stead.

The prince, to whom she had been married in infancy, sneaks into the university, together with two friends, with the aim of collecting his bride.

They disguise themselves as women students but are discovered and all soon face a literal war between the sexes.

Larry added: 'It's a comedic opera with some good characters. It's not one of Gilbert and Sullivan's best-known pieces, but it's got some good songs.

'We are based in Wroxham, at the church hall, and we have members from as far east as Acle, as far north as North Walsham, where I'm from, and out west as far as Dereham, so we are well spread out!'

Performances of Princess Ida will be at 7.30pm each evening, with a matinee show at 2.30pm on May 5. Tickets are �12 and can be purchased from www.enosoc.co.uk or 01603 620917.

- Are you rehearsing for a new production? Contact Local Life editor David Freezer on 01603 772418 or david.freezer@archant.co.uk