NMAODS – North Manchester Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society
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NMAODS HISTORY
The North Manchester Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society began its life in 1919 as the Simpson Memorial Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society, created from the merger of the Harpurhey Dramatic Society and the Simpson Memorial Tennis Club. Our home has been the Simpson Memorial Hall on Moston Lane since 1919 and to this day, it is where we not only rehearse almost every week of the year, but where we perform most of our dramatic productions and concerts.
Our first musical show was The Mikado, which we performed at the Simpson Memorial Hall in 1920. However, in 1922 the Society needed a bigger venue for its first play, Are you a Mason and took the decision to perform this at Newton Heath Town Hall. In 1925 we then moved our productions to the Queens Park Hippodrome, starting with Merrie England. 1929 found us on the move yet again, performing at St Johns Parochial Hall in Moston for our productions of Lilac Domino, Rebel Maid, Quaker Girl and Katinka. Then it was back to the Queens Park Hippodrome until it closed in 1952. In 1936, the Society put on Rose Marie at a cost of £500 and by the time it repeated this show in 1969 at the Palace Theatre Manchester, the cost of the production had risen to £5000. One of our most popular shows over the years has been TheDesert Song which we first performed in 1938 and which would be repeated by us a further four times.
Rio Ritawas successfully performed in the spring of 1939, but before another musical could be put into rehearsal, war broke out. Although a decision was the taken to suspend any large-scale activity, concert groups were organized to provide entertainment for troops, hospitals etc., and to continue the fund raising function of the Society. All surplus funds held by the Society at that time were distributed amongst local charities and the Society was out into suspension. The last performance by the Society at that time, possibly as a gesture of defiance to the war, was a concert version of Merrie England in 1940. Once the war was over, a meeting was called to re-establish the Society and a decision was taken to restart with yet another concert version of Merrie England, not a very original choice perhaps, but somehow appropriate to the occasion. The Society continued its charitable donations with a bed provided for North Manchester Maternity Home in 1947 and a significant donation of £350 to the Lord Mayor’s War Memorial Fund in 1948.
In1948 and with a leaking roof, the Simpson Hall was declared unfit for use and the Society had to move its next dramatic production to the Queens Park Hippodrome. The Society continued to perform there until the theatre closed in 1952. To mark the closure of Queens Park Hippodrome the Society performed the North West Premier of Annie Get Your Gun. We then moved to the Palladium (Cintra) on Rochdale Road and in 1954 revived The Desert Song. The Cintra was a long narrow theatre, with terrible acoustics and the audience had great difficult in hearing what was going on. The effect on ticket sales was disastrous and support declined at an alarming rate.
In1955 with falling attendances, the Society was at crisis point. The Committee was faced with the choice of winding up the Society or finding another and more suitable venue. They made the risky decision to move to the Palace Theatre in Manchester and put on Showboat. With a cast of over 100 it was an outstanding success and a profit of £600 was made. Meanwhile the dramatic side had moved back to the Simpson. The glory days of the Palace continued until 1981 when rising costs forced the Society to move to the Royal Northern College of Music. The final show at the Palace was White Horse Inn and we opened our spell at RNCM with The Merry Widow. Again costs forced a move from RNCM in 1995 with the last show there being The Sound of Music.
Sincethen, our musical productions have been staged here in Middleton, our first, The Desert Song being at the Civic Centre. Throughout the 1990s the Society was able to perform two musical productions each year, but rising costs mean that we are now able to finance only one musical show each year, relying on our plays, concerts and other fundraising activities to fund these. NMAODS’ last show at the Civic Centre was our award-winning Anything Goes, however, with the closure of the Civic Centre in 2008 the Society has now moved to the new Middleton Arena, with which we look forward to a long association.
Our first musical show was The Mikado, which we performed at the Simpson Memorial Hall in 1920. However, in 1922 the Society needed a bigger venue for its first play, Are you a Mason and took the decision to perform this at Newton Heath Town Hall. In 1925 we then moved our productions to the Queens Park Hippodrome, starting with Merrie England. 1929 found us on the move yet again, performing at St Johns Parochial Hall in Moston for our productions of Lilac Domino, Rebel Maid, Quaker Girl and Katinka. Then it was back to the Queens Park Hippodrome until it closed in 1952. In 1936, the Society put on Rose Marie at a cost of £500 and by the time it repeated this show in 1969 at the Palace Theatre Manchester, the cost of the production had risen to £5000. One of our most popular shows over the years has been TheDesert Song which we first performed in 1938 and which would be repeated by us a further four times.
Rio Ritawas successfully performed in the spring of 1939, but before another musical could be put into rehearsal, war broke out. Although a decision was the taken to suspend any large-scale activity, concert groups were organized to provide entertainment for troops, hospitals etc., and to continue the fund raising function of the Society. All surplus funds held by the Society at that time were distributed amongst local charities and the Society was out into suspension. The last performance by the Society at that time, possibly as a gesture of defiance to the war, was a concert version of Merrie England in 1940. Once the war was over, a meeting was called to re-establish the Society and a decision was taken to restart with yet another concert version of Merrie England, not a very original choice perhaps, but somehow appropriate to the occasion. The Society continued its charitable donations with a bed provided for North Manchester Maternity Home in 1947 and a significant donation of £350 to the Lord Mayor’s War Memorial Fund in 1948.
In1948 and with a leaking roof, the Simpson Hall was declared unfit for use and the Society had to move its next dramatic production to the Queens Park Hippodrome. The Society continued to perform there until the theatre closed in 1952. To mark the closure of Queens Park Hippodrome the Society performed the North West Premier of Annie Get Your Gun. We then moved to the Palladium (Cintra) on Rochdale Road and in 1954 revived The Desert Song. The Cintra was a long narrow theatre, with terrible acoustics and the audience had great difficult in hearing what was going on. The effect on ticket sales was disastrous and support declined at an alarming rate.
In1955 with falling attendances, the Society was at crisis point. The Committee was faced with the choice of winding up the Society or finding another and more suitable venue. They made the risky decision to move to the Palace Theatre in Manchester and put on Showboat. With a cast of over 100 it was an outstanding success and a profit of £600 was made. Meanwhile the dramatic side had moved back to the Simpson. The glory days of the Palace continued until 1981 when rising costs forced the Society to move to the Royal Northern College of Music. The final show at the Palace was White Horse Inn and we opened our spell at RNCM with The Merry Widow. Again costs forced a move from RNCM in 1995 with the last show there being The Sound of Music.
Sincethen, our musical productions have been staged here in Middleton, our first, The Desert Song being at the Civic Centre. Throughout the 1990s the Society was able to perform two musical productions each year, but rising costs mean that we are now able to finance only one musical show each year, relying on our plays, concerts and other fundraising activities to fund these. NMAODS’ last show at the Civic Centre was our award-winning Anything Goes, however, with the closure of the Civic Centre in 2008 the Society has now moved to the new Middleton Arena, with which we look forward to a long association.
A LIST OF THE SHOWS WE HAVE DONE SINCE 1919
1920 The Mikado
1921 The Gondoliers
1922 Are You A Mason: Iolanthe
1923 Dr. Wakes’ Patient: Tom Jones
1924 Tilly Of Bloomsbury:
Pirates Of Penzance
1925 Irresistible Marmaduke: Merrie England
1926 The Lie
1927 A Little Bit Of Fluff: The Mikado:
Lillies Of The Field
1928 The Marriage Market: Uncle Ned
1929 Lilac Domino: The Rebel Maid
1930 The Walls Of Jericho: The Quaker Girl
1931 Baa Baa Black Sheep: Katinka
1932 Bird In Hand: Barren Chinese Puzzle
1933 Miss Hook Of Holland: Interference
1934 The Marriage Market: The Arcadians
1935 The Best People: A Damsel In Distress
1936 Rose Marie: The Barratts Of Wimpole Street
1937 New Moon: Middle Watch
1938 The Desert Song: Mocking Bird
1939 Rio Rita
1945 Concert version of Merrie England:
Ladies In Retirement
1946 The Arcadians
1947 Quiet Wedding: Belle Of New York
1948 A Murder Has Been Arranged: Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary: Gypsy Love
1949 See How They Run: Dead On Nine:
Lilac Domino
1950 Dear Octopus: A Waltz Dream
1951 Jane Steps Out: Autumn Crocus: The Geisha
1952 One Wild Oat:
Annie Get Your Gun (N.W.Premiere)
1953 The Day’s Mischief: Without The Prince
1954 The Desert Song: The Two Mrs Carols:
Floradora
1955 Here We Come Gathering: Oklahoma:
The Quaker Girl
1956 Stolen Waters: Perchance To Dream
1957 Show Boat
1958 Cry Wolf: Cat Among The Pigeons: Carousel
1959 The Happy Marriage: Love From Judy
1960 Cock-a Doodle-Do: The King And I
1961 The Gentle Arm: South Pacific
1962 Double Door: Wild Violets
1963 Pools Paradise: Salad Days: Antigone
1964 King’s Rhapsody: This Was A Woman
1965 Meet Me By Moonlight: White Horse Inn
1966 Breath Of Spring; Kismet:
As Long As They’re Happy
1967 The Desert Song
1968 The Quaker Girl
1969 A Cavalcade Of Song: Rose Marie
1970 Golden Memories: The Merry Widow
1971 Hello Dolly
1972 The Student Prince
1973 Fiddler On The Roof
1974 Lilac Domino
1975 Show Boat
1976 Summer Song
1977 *Waltzes From Vienna
1978 Vagabond King: Not Now Darling
1979 Perchance To Dream: See How They Run:
Olde Tyme Music Hall
1980 No No Nanette
1981 Madame Tic Tac: White Horse Inn
1982 When We Are Married: The Merry Widow: Night Must Fall
1983 The Gypsy Baron: Song and Story:
Spring and Port Wine: Sunday Serenade:
Bonaventure
1984 Viva Mexico: Friends and Neighbours:
The Desert Song: Christmas Crackers
1985 The Mikado: I’ll Get My Man:
Die Fledermaus – concert version
1986 Taxpayers Waltz: Gondoliers:
Suddenly At Home: Viennese Evening
1987 La Belle Helene: Hollywood Melodies:
Big Bad Mouse
1988 Murder At The Vicarage: Dry Rot:
Beside The Seaside: Patient in 4B:
Calamity Jane:
London Days Venetian Nights
1989 Sailor Beware: Iolanthe: Gala Concert:
Ladies In Retirement: Murder On The Nile:
On Monday Next
1990 Aladdin: The Land Of Smiles:
Deadly Nightcap: Gala Concert:
A Bird In The Hand
1991 Thriller Of The Year: New Moon:
Key For Two: Gala Concert: The Paragon
1992 When We Are Married: Gala Concert:
The Mikado: Stepping Out
1993 Blithe Spirit: Fiddler On The Roof:
Gondoliers: Cinderella
1994 The King and I: The Student Prince
1995 The Sound Of Music: The Desert Song
1996 H.M.S. Pinafore: My Fair Lady
1997 Show Boat:
Farndale Avenue Murder Mystery: Gigi
1998 Hello Dolly: Jack And The Beanstalk
1999 The Sound of Music: Robinson Crusoe
2000 Carousel
2001 Guys and Dolls: When We Are Married
Trial By Jury: Babes In The Wood
2002 Me and My Girl:
Magic of the Musicals Concerts
2003 Pack of Lies: Calamity Jane:
Grand Night for Singing Concerts:
The Love Match
2004 South Pacific:
Grand Night For Singing Concerts:
Habeas Corpus
2005 Grand Night For Singing Concerts:
Half a Sixpence
2006 Our Day Out:
Grand Night For Singing Concerts: Honk!
2007 Grand Night For Singing Concerts:
Sweet Charity: Come To The Cabaret Concerts:
Youth Christmas Show
2008 Come To The Cabaret Concerts: Anything Goes: The Importance of Being Ernest:
2009 Celebration 90:
1921 The Gondoliers
1922 Are You A Mason: Iolanthe
1923 Dr. Wakes’ Patient: Tom Jones
1924 Tilly Of Bloomsbury:
Pirates Of Penzance
1925 Irresistible Marmaduke: Merrie England
1926 The Lie
1927 A Little Bit Of Fluff: The Mikado:
Lillies Of The Field
1928 The Marriage Market: Uncle Ned
1929 Lilac Domino: The Rebel Maid
1930 The Walls Of Jericho: The Quaker Girl
1931 Baa Baa Black Sheep: Katinka
1932 Bird In Hand: Barren Chinese Puzzle
1933 Miss Hook Of Holland: Interference
1934 The Marriage Market: The Arcadians
1935 The Best People: A Damsel In Distress
1936 Rose Marie: The Barratts Of Wimpole Street
1937 New Moon: Middle Watch
1938 The Desert Song: Mocking Bird
1939 Rio Rita
1945 Concert version of Merrie England:
Ladies In Retirement
1946 The Arcadians
1947 Quiet Wedding: Belle Of New York
1948 A Murder Has Been Arranged: Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary: Gypsy Love
1949 See How They Run: Dead On Nine:
Lilac Domino
1950 Dear Octopus: A Waltz Dream
1951 Jane Steps Out: Autumn Crocus: The Geisha
1952 One Wild Oat:
Annie Get Your Gun (N.W.Premiere)
1953 The Day’s Mischief: Without The Prince
1954 The Desert Song: The Two Mrs Carols:
Floradora
1955 Here We Come Gathering: Oklahoma:
The Quaker Girl
1956 Stolen Waters: Perchance To Dream
1957 Show Boat
1958 Cry Wolf: Cat Among The Pigeons: Carousel
1959 The Happy Marriage: Love From Judy
1960 Cock-a Doodle-Do: The King And I
1961 The Gentle Arm: South Pacific
1962 Double Door: Wild Violets
1963 Pools Paradise: Salad Days: Antigone
1964 King’s Rhapsody: This Was A Woman
1965 Meet Me By Moonlight: White Horse Inn
1966 Breath Of Spring; Kismet:
As Long As They’re Happy
1967 The Desert Song
1968 The Quaker Girl
1969 A Cavalcade Of Song: Rose Marie
1970 Golden Memories: The Merry Widow
1971 Hello Dolly
1972 The Student Prince
1973 Fiddler On The Roof
1974 Lilac Domino
1975 Show Boat
1976 Summer Song
1977 *Waltzes From Vienna
1978 Vagabond King: Not Now Darling
1979 Perchance To Dream: See How They Run:
Olde Tyme Music Hall
1980 No No Nanette
1981 Madame Tic Tac: White Horse Inn
1982 When We Are Married: The Merry Widow: Night Must Fall
1983 The Gypsy Baron: Song and Story:
Spring and Port Wine: Sunday Serenade:
Bonaventure
1984 Viva Mexico: Friends and Neighbours:
The Desert Song: Christmas Crackers
1985 The Mikado: I’ll Get My Man:
Die Fledermaus – concert version
1986 Taxpayers Waltz: Gondoliers:
Suddenly At Home: Viennese Evening
1987 La Belle Helene: Hollywood Melodies:
Big Bad Mouse
1988 Murder At The Vicarage: Dry Rot:
Beside The Seaside: Patient in 4B:
Calamity Jane:
London Days Venetian Nights
1989 Sailor Beware: Iolanthe: Gala Concert:
Ladies In Retirement: Murder On The Nile:
On Monday Next
1990 Aladdin: The Land Of Smiles:
Deadly Nightcap: Gala Concert:
A Bird In The Hand
1991 Thriller Of The Year: New Moon:
Key For Two: Gala Concert: The Paragon
1992 When We Are Married: Gala Concert:
The Mikado: Stepping Out
1993 Blithe Spirit: Fiddler On The Roof:
Gondoliers: Cinderella
1994 The King and I: The Student Prince
1995 The Sound Of Music: The Desert Song
1996 H.M.S. Pinafore: My Fair Lady
1997 Show Boat:
Farndale Avenue Murder Mystery: Gigi
1998 Hello Dolly: Jack And The Beanstalk
1999 The Sound of Music: Robinson Crusoe
2000 Carousel
2001 Guys and Dolls: When We Are Married
Trial By Jury: Babes In The Wood
2002 Me and My Girl:
Magic of the Musicals Concerts
2003 Pack of Lies: Calamity Jane:
Grand Night for Singing Concerts:
The Love Match
2004 South Pacific:
Grand Night For Singing Concerts:
Habeas Corpus
2005 Grand Night For Singing Concerts:
Half a Sixpence
2006 Our Day Out:
Grand Night For Singing Concerts: Honk!
2007 Grand Night For Singing Concerts:
Sweet Charity: Come To The Cabaret Concerts:
Youth Christmas Show
2008 Come To The Cabaret Concerts: Anything Goes: The Importance of Being Ernest:
2009 Celebration 90: