In 1935 the Newark Choral and Orchestral Society decided to stage a fully costumed production for the first time, and added ‘Operatic’ to the Society’s name.
The Mikado was the first production, staged in April
1936, at the Palace Theatre.
Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas were performed yearly without a break until HMS Pinafore in 1940. After the Second World War the Society reformed and took its present title, Newark Amateur Operatic Society, and changed venues to the Technical College to produce The Gondoliers.
It was not until 1952 that the first non–G&S, The Geisha was produced. The Society returned to the Palace in 1955.
In 1960 the Society took a great step forward by employing its first professional producer, Lilian Dunkley, from Leicester. Over the next 20 years she was to produce a wide variety of modern musicals, many of them popular American musicals. Rodgers and Hammerstein figured prominently. The King and I played to packed audiences in 1961 to be followed by Carousel and Oklahoma!
In 1967 after the production of Annie Get Your Gun, the Society was told that it could no longer use the Palace
What a horrendous shock! Over the next few difficult years the annual production was staged at the Savoy Cinema in less than ideal conditions and also at the Grove Leisure centre in Balderton.
During this time the Society once again turned to Gilbert and Sullivan, this time with spectacular open air performances of The Yeomen of the Guard and The Mikado in Newark Castle Grounds with members of Gilbert and Sullivan For All Company taking the principal parts. These shows played to audiences of eight thousand!
1973 saw us return once more to our home at the Palace Theatre where we have been ever since. Mary Spencer, also from Leicester, took over as producer and during her time produced some spectacular musicals such as Kiss Me Kate, Hello Dolly!, My Fair Lady and 42nd Street.
NAOS continually faces many challenges, primarily financial, as the costs associated with staging productions continue
to rise.
Our last show, 42nd Street, cost close to fifty thousand pounds to stage, although we are pleased to be able to say that today, the Society is flourishing.
We have a very varied and talented company, experienced and young, and are still going strong. The Society is looking forward to a prosperous future.
