Gillingham Operatic & Dramatic Society
Group Details
- Type: Musical Plays and Pantomimes, Concerts
- Age Range: All
- Rehearsals: Tuesday and Thursday
Location
- Town: Gillingham
- County: Kent
- Region: South East
Contact
- Email: info [at] gillinghamoperatic [dot] co [dot] uk
- Phone: 01634-408105
- Website: http://www.gillinghamoperatic.co.uk
The Gillingham Operatic & Dramatic Society were formed in a small church hall, in Gillingham in 1975. Since that time we have become the resident musical society in the Brook Theatre, Chatham. At this location we have storage facilities for scenery, props and our wardrobe.
We are very much a mixed group, and our members are from all walks of life; teachers, nurses, police officers, social workers and of course school pupils and retired workers.
We perform a major musical in October, at the Central Theatre, Chatham,(Carousel for 2007), a Pantomime in the February school half-term holiday, (Dick Whittington this coming Feb) and a revue in April/May. We also do concerts at outreach locations for groups, societies and retirement homes.
We are always on the lookout for new members, especially MEN!!! We have a fantastic production team; Tony Cassidy is our Director, (Oliver was his first with us, and he has been with us since 1999), Brian Skinner is our MD. Being an ex Royay Engineers Bandsman has its advantages, and our Choreographer is Julie Price. Julie was a dancer with the Black & White Minstrells, although she has danced since she was very small. Our stage manager, Oliver Flanagan started by understudying the theatre SM and went to a couple of NODA Summer Schools to learn the trade. John Endicott is the Production Manager and it’s his job to make sure all goes well with acquiring scenery, costumes and props, many of which he manufactures huimself. Chasing up adverts for the programmes and geting the posters out on time all come under his umbrella.
As you will see we are a very ‘professional’ amateur company!
Why not give us a try when we meet, every Tuesday and Thusday at 8pm in the Brook Theatre. See you there.
