Society’s Music Hall farewell

Angela Davies poses in front of the set at Shrewsbury Music Hall. Picture: Mark Booth

A Shropshire amateur operatic society is bringing down the curtain on its memorable history at Shrewsbury’s historic Music Hall this week with its 70th and final production at the venue.

And Shrewsbury Amateur Operatic Society’s latest production will surly be extra special for director Angela Davies as she is preparing a double celebration after reaching 50 years with the organisation.

The latest production – Anything Goes – opens tonight, providing a last chance to see the society perform at the Music Hall before Shrewsbury’s multi-million pound theatre opens.

Mrs Davies said: “This will be our last production at the Music Hall and we’re hoping to go to the new theatre in 2010. We’ve had some great times at the Music Hall and have put on some very good shows there.”

The society was formed in 1923 by singing teacher Rena Robinson and performed the Gondoliers as its first production, which was held at the County Theatre.

Performances moved to the Granada Theatre in 1936 and stayed there for 36 years until the society moved to the Music Hall.

The society has staged two productions a year, only stopping in 1984 and 1985 when work took place on the stage.

Mrs Davies joined as a member of the chorus and a dancer in 1959 for its production of White Horse Inn.

“My mother joined the society in 1947 and I used to go to rehearsals with her and sat by the piano and got hooked on it,” she said.

“This will be my 77th production and my fifth as a director.”

Life member Mrs Davies, a former president and secretary of the society, said the latest production took place aboard a liner travelling from New York to England.

She said: “There’s lots of different characters and it’s a very happy sort of show with good costumes and fantastic Cole Porter music.”

By John Kirk