Ian is appearing in Hot Mikado as Pooh Bah at the Watermill Theatre, Bagnor until September 2nd.

Hot Mikado is directed by Strictly Come Dancing Judge, Craig Revel Horwood.

Tickets are hard to come by but you might be lucky, ring on the box office on 01635 46044 or try the website - http://www.watermill.org.uk/

From the Theatre's Website

Picture a little town in Japan whose citizens are finding the law that makes flirting the only crime punishable by death, rather, well… tiresome. They appoint Ko Ko, a lowly tailor, as Lord High Executioner, himself condemned for flirting and so not likely to execute anyone else. When the Mikado decides to pay a call to see how the execution record’s going, Ko Ko has to come up with a plan. Throw in the beautiful Yum Yum, her ardent admirer Nanki–Pooh, errant son of the Mikado, and the man-eater Katisha, and you have one of Gilbert & Sullivan’s most famous nineteenth century comic operas in all its wonderful absurdity.

But this is The Mikado like you’ve never seen it before as East meets West and the musical style moves on a few years to the 40’s. The G&S classic score now swings and jives with sassy songs and a bit of gospel and Rhythm and Blues too. So hold on to your seats, this will be one of the most energetic and exhilarating shows you’ll see this year. It’s so hot, it’s cool!

Ian is appearing alongside Andrew Alexander, Robin Colyer, Neil Ditt, Georgina Field, Christopher Fry, Jeffrey Harmer, Nicola Hughes, Junix Inocian, Rebecca Jackson, Karen Mann, Kit Orton, Helen Power and Sarah Travis.

It's directed by Craig Revel Horwood, with musical direction and arrangements by Sarah Travis.

Makeover Mikados are pretty familiar, but Craig Revel Horwood’s production is a remake of a remake, distantly related to an American 1940s Cotton Club version seen in the West End in 1995. Plot and tunes are just about Gilbert and Sullivan, but the setting could be anywhere, from Harlem to Haight-Ashbury. The tiny stage is almost too small to contain the energy of an enthusiastic cast of 14 actor-musicians, who have added tap dancing to the many skills that these Watermill shows demand. Andrew Alexander’s Nanki-Poo is an amiable flute-and-trumpet-playing hippie hunk; Nicola Hughes is larger than life in all respects as Yum Yum. These American musical types contrast entertainingly with Jeffrey Harmer’s bank manager of a Lord High Executioner and Ian Conningham as an escapee from EastEnders with a mean drum solo. The pace is relentless, and I started to long for some Victorian sweetness as Sullivan’s melodies were remorselessly trashed. No let-up here, though, and if you can imagine Karen Mann’s magnificent Katisha as Shirley Bassey and Louis Armstrong rolled up together and stuffed into a miniskirted kimono, you will know what to expect.

Robert Hewison - Sunday Times

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