Scunthorpe Gilbert and Sullivan Amateur Operatic Society was formed in early 1961 after a group of local enthusiasts had presented The Gondoliers at the town’s Civic Theatre in Autumn 1960 under the direction of local music teacher Horace Larvin.

 Certain of these enthusiasts decided that they wanted to perform regularly and so a committee was formed with Tony Woolley as Chairman, Harry Bradshaw as Secretary and Margaret Cooper as Musical Director. An advertisement for members was placed in the local paper, and rehearsals for The Mikado commenced in Spring 1961. For the production the former D’Oyly Carte stalwart Radley Flynn was engaged as director. The production was presented at the Civic Theatre in November 1961. To raise funds for the following year’s production of The Pirates of Penzance a concert was organised for the spring. This has been the pattern of the society’s activities ever since: concert in the spring, production in early November.

             It was the society’s policy to have, if possible, ex-D’Oyly Carte principals as director – or producer, as they were called in the early days. Among these have been Richard Dunn, Leslie Rands, Joyce Wright (now our President Emeritus – who came to direct Ruddigore and married the owner of the hotel at which she was staying) and Roberta Morrell. Most prominent of our non-ex D’Oyly Carte directors was David Turner, now known for his association with the annual Buxton G & S Festival, and as director of The Mousetrap.

             After Margaret Cooper moved to Sheffield, local music teacher Gwenda Jones took over the post of Musical Director. When she moved to Congleton, Avis Tossell, still active locally with the Wold Singers, took over. She was succeeded by Keith Taylor, who dedicated twenty five years in the post, albeit in two stints, with accompanist, Margaret Scott, having also wielded the baton. Our present Musical Director is David Williams, with John Carter taking on the accompanist duties from Margaret Scott.

             Some years ago, the constitution of the society was changed to allow full-scale productions of non-G & S works to be presented. Consequently Die Fledermaus and The Merry Widow are in the list of past productions. The society will be performing 'The Pirates of Penzance' by Gilbert and Sullivan in November this year, at the Plowright Theatre.

          Five of the original members are still associated with the society.

J. K. Taylor