Beaconsfield Operatic Society, Blyth

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History of the society

The society was originally called The Beaconsfield Street Primitive Methodist Amateur Operatic Society, because it was originally made up of the members of the Beaconsfield Street Primitive Methodist Church. The Reverend J. Pinchen was the original driving force, and productions actually took place at the Beaconsfield Street Primitive Methodist Church between 1924 and 1927.

Between 1928 and 1930, productions took place in St Mary's Hall, which had a much bigger stage than the schoolroom of the Methodist Church. A review of "The Rebel Maid" which took place in 1928 read: "The Beaconsfield Street P.M. Amateur Operatic Society is performing with a great amount of success the light opera "The Rebel Maid" in St. Mary's Church Hall. The performances were attended by large and appreciative audiences."

The first performance of a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta was in 1929, with "The Mikado". This was the first year that membership of the society was extended to non church members. The following year Iolanthe was performed, with the most expensive tickets available for two shillings.

In 1931, performances were moved to the Miner's Welfare Hall in Renwick Road, Blyth, again to make use of the bigger stage. This was the first time the society performed Ruddigore, our previous show. There was some worry over the actor taking the part of Sir Despard Murgatroyd, George Turnbull, because he was the goalkeeper for Blyth Spartans football club, and he had to play in the next round of the FA Cup on the Friday of the show. Luckily, Mr A Norman, of the Felling Operatic Society offered his help, so the performance was not cancelled. The "Blyth News" had this to say on the matter: "It is hoped that both the football team and Operatic Society will have an equally successful week."

In 1935, the regular musical director moved to Sunderland, making future productions difficult. In fact, there were no musical productions between 1935 and 1963. Plays took place in the Methodist Church -
1946 - A Village Wedding, 1946 - Good Friday, 1950 - The Farmer's Wife, 1952 - Greater than Caesar, 1954 - Jacob's Ladder, 1955 - From the Country of Moab.

In 1963, sparked by a revival of Gilbert andSullivan from Newlands school, some of the former members of the society asked the producer of the school show, Renee Gallon, to produce "The Mikado" if the Society was resurrected. She agreed, and in 1964, "The Mikado" was performed at Newlands School. The name of the society changed to Beaconsfield Operatic Society, and many of the old members of the society rejoined, bringing their families with them. By 1965, when the show was "The Emerald Isle", the society had fifty members. In 1966, Leslie Henderson played the part of the Pirate King in "The Pirates of Penzance", significant because he had been the last person to play the Pirate King for the society in 1933.

Demand for seats in 1969, when the show was "The Merry Widow" meant that an extra matinee performance was scheduled. Over three thousand people saw the show, making it the greatest success the society had had to date. The show performed the following year was "Magyar Melody", the most expensive show they had every performed. "Show Boat", performed in Newlands School in 1971 was also a sell out, with an extra matinee arranged.

The Golden Jubilee of the society was celebrated in 1974, and it coincided with a move from Newlands School to the Wallaw Cinema, where Goodnight Vienna was performed. Messages of congratulation on the Golden Jubilee came from the Queen Mother, the President of NODA, and other local dignitaries.

The 1976 production was Fiddler on the Roof, led by Bill Gowdy as Tevye, who lost his voice during the final perfomance. It fell to Peter Robertson to sing Tevye from the wings, with Bill Gowdy miming on stage.

In 1976, it was decided to hold two shows a year, with one being a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. There was something of a homecoming, as the production of HMS Pinafore was performed at the Phoenix Theatre, which had formerly been the Beaconsfield Street Primitive Methodist Church. The pattern of a 'big' show at the Wallaw, followed by a Gilbert and Sullivan show continued until 1997.

"Hello Dolly" was the show of 1977, and it required two marching bands for the 4th of July Parade. The Pegswood Brass Band and St Wilfreds Juvenile Jazz Band obliged.

In 1982, "The New Moon" was performed, and to advertise, the society took part on a parade of floats in the Blyth carnival. The picture in the gallery shows the float rather than the show.

The 1984 performance of the 'big' show, "La Belle Helene", took place at the Phoenix Theatre, because it was feared that the Wallaw would no be available due to renovations. It was not until October 1985, and "Brigadoon", that the Wallaw was used again, and it continued to be used for the larger shows.

Brigadoon was also notable for the fact that one of the Scotsmen was in fact played by an American, Brad Seward, who was on a year's teaching exchange with another member of the society, Christine Young.

In 1989, instead of the Phoenix Theatre, the Wallaw was used for the production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Ruddigore", which took place for only three nights. The following year, "Iolanthe" was performed at Ridley High School, which had previously been known as Newlands. Gilbert and Sullivan shows were held at the High School until 1994, when HMS Pinafore was performed at the Wallaw. During that production, Hazel Gowdy as Little Buttercup was lowered onto the stage using a hoist.

All shows between 1994 and 2000 were performed at the Wallaw. It was becoming obvious that people were less interested in the Gilbert and Sullivan works, so a concert was performed as the spring show between 1997 and 2000, although to soften the blow, "Trial by Jury" was incorporated into the concert of 1997.

The year 1999 was our 75th anniversary year. It was marked by a concert of songs from previous shows and the Northern premiere of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".

Members of the society voted to return to the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas from the year 2000 onward, and our production of "The Mikado" took place at the Phoenix Theatre once again. Our musical director, Brian Seddon had become gravely ill during the rehearsals for this show, so Paul Hartley stepped in to act as chorus master. It was on the penultimate night of "The Mikado" that Brian died. We paid tribute to him on the final night of the show by dedicating the society 'anthem' to him, "Hail Poetry", from "The Pirates of Penzance". Along with Blyth Operatic Society and the Phoenix Theatre Group, we performed in a concert to benefit Brian's charity work in the year 2000.

2001 saw our presentations of "Ruddigore" and "Sweeney Todd". This year we performed a touring Proms concert, and we have recently presented the Northern premiere of "All 4 One".

Most of this history was compiled by Elsie Tunney, our accompanist for a number of years.

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