Website editor: Tony Alman  [email protected]

A brief history of Blackburn
Gilbert & Sullivan Society - and an invitation!

In 1963, Bert Hyde, a well known local amateur of the stage, contacted the local evening paper the Northern Daily Telegraph.  He invited any Gilbert & Sullivan enthusiasts to join him at the YMCA on Limbrick, Blackburn (now the Sir Charles Napier pub) for a singalong
"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.  She became the first Secretary and remained our  Secretary for many years. 

The Gondoliers was given in February 1964 at the Community Theatre in Troy Street, Blackburn to great acclaim.  We have put on a show every year since then.  Our main focus is Gilbert & Sullivan but we do the occasional musical as well.  These days we perform at the Blackburn Empire Theatre in Aqueduct Road.  See the map below.  Explore this website for details of our next production and other events. 
We meet to rehearse twice a week, currently using rehearsal space at the Theatre.   Rehearsals can increase in the run-up to a show.   Rehearsals start in early September to learn the music, followed by floorwork in November. The annual show is normally staged in in late February / early March.   Just occasionally we do a second show in the summer.   And we do concerts from time to time.

During the rest of the year we have other activities such as concerts and social events. The latter can be anything from a darts and dominoes evening to a quiz, a meal out or a trip to an interesting venue such as the annual Gilbert and Sullivan festival.

Before the rehearsals start we normally conduct a DVD night showing the next years production just to familiarise the society members with the show. This is a social event with a buffet afterwards provided by the members.
 
Anyone interested in taking part - whether it be in the chorus, or playing a principal part, or helping backstage, or helping to design and build the set, or making the tea at rehearsals, or anything at all - 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 let's hear from you!  We are well known as a friendly, welcoming society.
The Blackburn Empire Theatre, Aqueduct Road, Ewood, Blackburn, BB2 4HT on Google Maps


​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 link above detailing what you are after for bespoke material.
 
Website photos courtesy of Mikeseye Photographic, Eric Parkington and Blackburn Empire Theatre.