“At the kind invitation of Lady Ballance the following met at 41 All Saints Green on 26th January 1925 to discuss the formation of a Norfolk and Norwich Amateur Operatic Society.
The Lord Mayor of Norwich (Dr G.S. Pope), Lady Ballance, Lady Morse, Miss Wise, Mrs Winder, Mrs Thompson, Mrs Meiklem, Sir Hamilton Ballance, Mr Bachelor, Mr Butcher and Mr Thompson.
It was agreed that in the first place, a provisional Committee should be appointed in order to carry out the necessary preliminary arrangements. The following were to be asked to serve on the Committee:
The Lord Mayor of Norwich (Dr G.S. Pope), Lady Ballance, Lady Morse, Mrs Astley, Mrs Winder, Mrs Cicely Gurney, Mrs Gurley, Captn J. H. Mander, Mr Ivan Spain, Mr J Thompson and Mr Henry Butcher.
It was also agreed that Mr W. H. Meiklem should be asked to act as Secretary to the Provisional Committee.
Signed G. Steven Pope - Chairman.”
This was the very first entry in the minute books of the Norfolk and Norwich Amateur Operatic Society when, in 1925, it all began. It’s inaugural meeting was held at the Royal Hotel on Monday 16th March 1925 and at the Committee meeting held on 6th April, 1925 at 41 All Saint’s Green it was agreed that the first performances of the opera “Dorothy” should be fixed for the week 14th to 19th December, 1925 at the Norwich Hippodrome Theatre – later, due to unavailability of the Hippodrome, it was changed to the 7th to the 12th December at the Theatre Royal.
And there started what is now known as the Norfolk and Norwich Operatic Society.
Finances were as high on the agenda then as they are now with a “Guarantee Fund” opened with donations of £10.00 from The Lord Mayor, Sir Hamilton Ballance and Captain Mander along with a £5.00 donation from Mr Ivan Spain, Mr Henry Butcher and Mrs Winder. A grand total of £45.00.
Costs for this first production included:
Producer’s fee £84 /00 /00
Dancing Mistress £12 /12 /00
Insurance against fire at the Theatre £10 /00 /00 per performance
Advertising £50 /00 /00
Seat prices were fixed at:
Stalls and Dress Circle 4/3d ( 21 pence)
Pit 3/6d ( 17 pence)
Balcony 2/4d ( 12 pence)
Gallery 1/3d (7 pence)
Boxes 28/9d (£1.48p)
It will not come as too great a surprise to learn that the week’s production ran at a loss of approx. £200 with an overall deficit for this first year of £125.
It all seems a far cry from what we are doing today, but these humble beginnings laid the foundation upon which subsequent Chairmen have built.
Why not have a look at our Photo Gallery. We will be constantly adding photos from previous shows |
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