West Bromwich Operatic Society

Since 1938 the Society, which was formed from a previous Company called the West Bromwich Operatic and Dramatic Society, has played in the Plaza Theatre, West Bromwich (until 1956); The Windsor, Bearwood (1958 & 1959); Dudley Hippodrome (1960 – 1964); The Kings Cinema, West Bromwich (1964 – 1971); The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton (1973 – 1979); The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham (1980 – 1995). In Spring 1996 we returned to The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, and this has, without doubt, now become our ‘home’!

Our aim as an amateur company has been to continue performing in professional theatres and to keep the standard of production as high as possible.

We have performed a wide variety of shows over the years. From our first production of ‘Maid of the Mountains’, performances have included: ‘The Merry Widow’, ‘Hello Dolly’, ‘My Fair Lady’, ‘Oliver!’, ‘West Side Story’, ‘Evita’, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and La Cage Aux Folles’. In recent years we have followed the the ever-changing trends of the Musical, this is reflected in our productions of : ‘Witches of Eastwick’, ‘Full Monty’, ‘RENT’, ‘Disney’s Beauty and the Beast’, ‘The Producers’ and ‘Whistle Down The Wind’. Refer to our list of productions for further details.

Following the recruitment of children for our production of “Oliver!”in 1987, WBOS Youth Section was formed. This wonderful venture has resulted in countless youngsters going on to play leading roles in WBOS main productions. It has also produced a number of actors that now perform in the West End. You can visit the Youtheatre site by clicking the link on our home page.

Over the years we have presented many concerts and reviews, but it wasn’t until 1999 that we presented two musicals in the same year. In addition to our Spring production at the Grand Theatre we staged a small Autumn production of ‘Godspell’ at The Wesley Chapel, West Bromwich. This has now become regular practice, presenting us with opportunities to explore titles that we would not necessarily have the chance to perform. From the Wesley Chapel, we have gone on to present productions at The Mill Theatre, Sedgley; The Garrick Theatre, Lichfield; and The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham.

2018 marked our 80th Anniversary and we were very proud to announce that our programme for the year would be “Priscilla” and “West Side Story”.

As one of the largest societies in the Midlands we are proud of our achievements and in celebrating our 80th year we look forward to the future and the challenges that lie ahead.

Shrek

Calendar Girls

Chicago

Wizard of Oz

Cats

West Side Story

Priscilla

South Pacific

Rock of Ages

Aida

Made in Dagenham

Sunset Boulevard

Ghost

Spring Awakening

Sister Act

Grease

The Full Monty

Crazy For You

Whistle Down The Wind

Titanic

The Producers

Oliver!

Jesus Christ Superstar

Beauty and the Beast

2009 Rent
2009 La Cage aux Folles
2008 Show Boat
2008 Boogie Nights
2007 The Full Monty
2007 A Chorus Line
2006 The Witches of Eastwick
2006 Jekyll and Hyde
2005 The Full Monty
2005 Summer Holiday
2004 Ragtime the Musical
2004 Alice
2003 Jesus Christ Superstar
2003 Godspell
2002 Wizard of Oz
2002 Evita
2001 Oliver!
2001 Little Shop of Horrors
2000 Return to the Forbidden Planet
2000 Anything Goes
1999 Godspell
1999 Barnum
1998 Guys and Dolls
1997 Me and My Girl
1996 West Side Story
1995 Half a Sixpence
1994 Barnum
1993 My Fair Lady
1992 Carousel
1991 The Music Man
1990 Funny Girl
1989 Fiddler on the Roof
1988 Hello Dolly
1987 Oliver!
1986 No No Nanette
1985 Orpheus in the Underworld
1984 Brigadoon
1983 The Dancing Years
1982 Kiss Me Kate
1981 The Merry Widow
1980 Die Fledermaus
1979 Carousel
1978 The Music Man
1977 King’s Rhapsody
1976 The Land of Smiles
1975 Show Boat
1974 Gay’s the Word
1973 The Gypsy Baron
1972 The Mikado (Concert)
1971 Hello Dolly
1970 The Count of Luxembourg
1969 Annie Get Your Gun
1968 Waltzes from Vienna
1967 Orpheus in the Underworld
1966 The Desert Song
1965 Oklahoma
1964 Merrie England
1964 Glamorous Night
1963 The Most Happy Fella
1962 Kismet
1961The Merry Widow
1960 The King and I
1959 Bless the Bride
1958 White Horse Inn
1956 Rose Marie
1955 Goodnight Vienna
1954 Wild Violets
1953 The Vagabond King
1952 The New Moon
1951 The Geisha
1950 Student Prince
1949 Rio Rita
1949 Belle of New York
1948 Nina Rose
1947 Gypsy Princess
1939 Maid of the Mountains