Celebrating 60 years

60 Years’ History

60 Glorious Years by Margaret Morris

Founder Member and Assisted by Mike and Jean Harrison

Tenbury Amateur Operatic Society was the brainchild of Edgar Haines, (perhaps better know for his experimental musical notation) who co-operated with Ethel Phillips to create a musical group which subsequently developed into the Operatic Society.

Rehearsal took place in 1948 for the production of ‘Pirates of Penzance’ which was staged in 1949 under the directorship of Dr J A Burnett with Ross Fink from St Michael’s College as Musical Director.  This was performed at The Bridge Hotel on a stage constructed from beer barrels.

Subsequent productions took place at The Regal Cinema and The Drill Hall (now the Police Station) in Berrington Road, until 1954 when the Society moved to the Old Community Hall (Baptist Chapel) in Cross Street for a combined programme of ‘Trial by Jury’ and a one-act play by T.A.D.S.

Productions continued at the Community Hall for the next sixteen years until T.A.O.S. returned to the refurbished Regal for ‘The Mikado’ and the majority of productions hae taken place at this venue ever since.

Gilbert and Sullivan have provided the main bill of fare with the occasional foray into other operettas and musicals ranging from ‘the Beggars’ Opera’, ‘Edmund Germain’s ‘Merrie England’ and ‘Tom Jones’ to German operettas and latterly more modern musicals such as ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘Oklahoma’.

During its history the Society has been extremely fortunate in enjoying the support of enthusiastic performers, dedicated musicians, talented artists and stage and lighting crews in addition to Inventive musical and artistic directors and committed Friends of the Society who enable it to function on well-oiled wheels.