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Rushden Operatic Society

The society was formed by the late Bernard Palmer, a Rushden florist. He and nine others were interested and
willing to cover the £1,500 needed to stage the first show, and they called a public meeting.
About 85 people
turned up and the society was born. Two others involved in that first show were Percy and Hilda House of the
jewellers shop.
Oswald Lawrence was the society's first musical director and stayed with them for 29 years.
The society has had four musical directors; Oswald, Joan Hart, Pauline Longland and then Janet Welsh.
Many of its backstage crew have given long & dedicated service, especially stage manager Len Gomm.

Blossom Time was the first live show presented at the Ritz in 1947.


Productions
1947
Blossom Time
1969
The Dancing Years
1948
The Three Musketeers
1970
South Pacific
1949
Masquerade
1970
The Sound of Music
1950
The Vagabond King
1971
Showboat
1951
Magyar Melody
1972
My Fair Lady
1952
Bless the Bride and Advertisers
1973
The Mikado
1953
Waltz Without End
1974
Waltzes from Vienna
1953
Merrie England
1975
Summer Song
1954
Brigadoon
1976
Kiss Me, Kate
1954
The Gondoliers
1977
The Sound of Music
1955
The Dubarry
1978
The Merry Widow
1956
Song of Norway
1979
Viva Mexico and Advertisers
1957
White Horse Inn
1980
Calamity Jane
1958
Carousel and Advertisers
1981
The King and I
1959
Love from Judy
1982
Fiddler on the Roof
1959
Balalaika
1983
Oklahoma
1960
The King and I and Advertisers
1984
Hello Dolly
1961
Bitter Sweet and Advertisers
1985
Carousel
1962
Kismet and Advertisers
1986
Oliver
1963
The Desert Song and Advertisers
1987
South Pacific
1964
The Student Prince and Advertisers
1988
Half a Sixpence
1965
The Merry Widow
1989
Fiddler on the Roof
1966
The New Moon
1990
Perchance to Dream
1967
Annie Get Your Gun
1991
Can-Can
1968
Pink Champagne
 
 
Officers of the Society
1948
1949
1952
1953
1954
1957
1958
1959
1960

1961
1962
1963
1964
1966
1967
1968
1969
April
1970
Nov.
1970

1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1979
1987

Oswald Lawrence
Musical Director
Frederick G Lilley
Can-Can Girls 1973

Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society 1898/99

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