Mark Jamieson (The Mikado of Japan) first performed with TEPOS in its 1997 production, Princess Ida, and has since played James in The Pirates of Penzance, Harry in My Fair Lady and Police Sergeant Coles in last year's Jack the Ripper. He is also a member of the St Martins Players and, in keeping with his current role as insane despot, recently turned his hand to directing, although he found the experience a lot harder than acting. A temperamental lot, these thespians!

Russell Bowes (Nanki-Poo) stumbled into the strange world of amateur Gilbert and Sullivan nearly twenty years ago and has yet to find a good excuse for leaving. He can also occasionally be found playing principal roles in Sondheim, Mozart and Lerner and Loewe. TEPOS roles include Hilarion (Princess Ida), Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance) and Camille (The Merry Widow). Russell is a garden historian and ekes out this precarious existence by doubling up as a medical secretary.

Ian Templeton (Ko-Ko) has appeared in every TEPOS production since his first, The Pirates of Penzance in 1985. He has performed in shows with a few other local societies (and will be playing Sir Roderic in Ferrier's production of Ruddigore in May) but generally restricts his appearances to TEPOS. Having doddered about the stage as the Notary in The Sorcerer last year, Ian is pleased not to be cast as a more 'mature' character this time around as typecasting was starting to be a worry!

Matthew Stainer (Pooh-Bah) saw his first Mikado aged two-and-a-half, and has long admired the output of TEPOS. Consequently, his first production with the society, combined with the memory of his father's performance all those years ago has caused his family pride to reach inconceivable levels. Besides G&S, Matthew sings grand opera and choral works with the Thomas Tallis Society, Fettuccine Opera and the Camerata Singers. He occasionally finds the time for his day job as an overgrown teenage scribbler in the City.

Michael P Smith (Pish-Tush) attained various diplomas at Aberdeen, the Glasgow Academy of Music and the London Opera Centre before spending more than a decade at European opera houses (mainly in Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland and Germany). Now settled in London following a year at California's Berkeley Ballet, he plays at the Ballet Rambert, among others. Michael is returning to TEPOS having appeared in Jack the Ripper (as Jock) and The Sorcerer last year.

Jane Barnes (Yum-Yum) began singing in her native North East at nine years old. She studied at the London College of Music and now has lessons with Greg Tormann. This is Jane's third show with TEPOS, having played Mabel in 1997's The Pirates of Penzance and Aline in The Sorcerer last year. She has also played Angelina (Trial by Jury) and Casilda (The Gondoliers). Her next productions are Carousel at Lewisham Theatre in April and Music of the Night at Woolwich Barracks in July. 

Sarah Ince (Katisha) studied singing at Trinity College of Music, joining Pro-Musica Opera Chorus and enjoying several trips to Europe. After leaving college she sang with regional opera groups including Opera South West and Kentish Opera. Roles include Nicklaus (The Tales of Hoffmann), Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors) and Olga (Eugene Onegin). Sarah regularly sings oratorios and recitals in the South East and her home county, Devon. Concert engagements include regular work with the quartet Caritas.

Keeley Saunders (Peep-Bo) was brought up on Gilbert and Sullivan, so her parents are to blame for her occasionally unnerving enthusiasm! She was President of Newcastle University's G&S Society, and played Edith (The Pirates of Penzance) and Lady Sophy (Utopia Limited). Since graduating, she has performed G&S with her dad for 'Opera Options' at Hever Castle and taken part in the G&S Centenary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, both of which pale into insignificance compared to her first TEPOS starring role.

Jackie Templeton (Pitti-Sing) was introduced to amateur theatre in 1962, when she watched her parents take part in The Gondoliers with TEPOS. From the age of 13, though she's not saying when that was, she has been involved with all the TEPOS productions, with recent roles including Cathy Eddowes in Jack the Ripper and Kate in The Pirates of Penzance. Jackie has also performed or worked backstage with most other local societies, most recently playing Katie Brown in Calamity Jane with Hulviz.