Rotorua's Tim Beveridge to return in Pirates of Penzance

It may have been written more than a century ago, but Tim Beveridge says the comedy in his latest starring role hasn't aged.

The former Rotorua man will been hitting stages around the country when he heads on tour with Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance over the next two months.

The tour will see him returning to his old stomping ground of Rotorua - performing in a theatre show in town for the first time in almost two decades.

His role as the Pirate King will see him perform alongside some of New Zealand's acting greats including George Henare and Geraldine Brophy and working with talented producer Ben McDonald - who was part of the reason Beveridge got on board.

"It's a fantastic cast they've put together."

For Beveridge it's a welcome opportunity to get back on stage and touring the country.

"It's actually very funny for something written so long ago."

He said his role as the Pirate King was one that was full of fun and energy.

"If you can't have fun with that role then hell.'

Beveridge said he'd been involved in a whole range of things since he produced the Lakeside show in 2010.

They included working on the Queen Elizabeth, performing in concerts and teaching.

"The major production has been my now 9-month-old baby."

The baby, Rosie, joins older sister Lily who is now 2-years-old.

Beveridge said while performing "on a whole always remains a tough career" he had absolutely no regrets about leaving the law profession to pursue it.

One of his passions over the past year has been working on orchestrations for a concert featuring the music of James Bond called The Music is Bond ... James Bond.

"That show is a big deal for me. It's an idea that came to me a few years ago."

He realised that with 26 movies - and therefore 26 theme songs - it would make a great idea for a concert.

The first concert he produced himself and performed with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and there's now talk of trying to take it on tour in the United States.

He said a You Tube clip of the concert already had more than 400,000 hits.

Beveridge said while he loved the whole production side, like he'd done with the Bond show, he was looking forward to just being a performer in Pirates of Penzance.

"In a way it is a treat. I don't have to worry about anything except my role," he said.

"It's been a little while since I've done a stage show."

Pirates of Penzance comes to Rotorua on September 10. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.