A brief history of Blackburn
Gilbert & Sullivan Society



​In 1963, Bert Hyde, a well known local amateur of the stage, contacted the local evening paper, the Northern Daily Telegraph, inviting any Gilbert & Sullivan enthusiasts to join him at the YMCA on Limbrick, Blackburn (now the Sir Charles Napier pub) for a sing-along, (and please bring any scores you may have). 
About 15 persons turned up to that first meeting, and after a few weeks of impromptu singing, they decided to put on a show! 
A committee was formed, the show chosen was The Gondoliers. Ruth Prest was asked to produce, and Mr Andrews, well known in the musical world, and incidentally blind, became the first Musical Director.
The society had literally nothing, so fund raising was a major priority. One of the methods chosen, selling football tickets, resulted in a contact with Connie Kay, and she became the first secretary, and indeed was the secretary for many years. 

Our first show, The Gondoliers, was given in February 1964 at the Community Theatre, Troy Street, Blackburn to great acclaim. We are just about to launch into our 53rd production, "Iolanthe", and rehearsals will commence in September 2016 in the Performing Arts Centre at the Thwaites Empire Theatre. The show itself will take place at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in February 2017.

Anyone interested in a role in our next production, whether it be as part of the chorus, or playing a principal part, or helping backstage, or assisting in the designing and building of the set, or to make the tea at rehearsals, or anything at all, if you'd like to take part, then please get in touch with us via the Contact Page. We are always delighted to welcome new members of any age. New members are the life-blood of amateur societies. So get in touch! We are well known as a friendly, welcoming society.

Hear performances from members of Blackburn Gilbert & Sullivan Society
thanks to Penny Hood at NoteBashers.com by clicking on the
following link Orchestral Backing Sample Tracks at NoteBashers.com.

NoteBashers vocal rehearsal CDs, for choristers and principals, are practice tracks providing music only versions of your opera  with your part predominant. So if you want to sing but can't read music, this is the perfect solution. Accompaniment CDs of each complete work are also available.

NoteBashers.com specialise in Gilbert & Sullivan operas, but also have other items in stock including works by Edward German, Mozart, Bizet, Strauss, Offenbach and many more. Please check the relevant catalogue pages to find the music you are after, or send a message via the NoteBashers.com contact page detailing what you are after for bespoke material.
 
Website photos courtesy of Mikeseye Photographic and Thwaites Empire Theatre.