Description

Admin History:

Hull Savoyards Amateur Operatic Society was founded in 1934. George W.H. Bean (organising secretary), Earnest Green (treasurer) and John Coulson (musical director and organist) formed the society at the Plane Street Methodist church in Hull. This became the regular rehearsal venue until later years when they rehearsed at the Central Methodist Hall. The Savoyards named themselves after the Savoy Theatre in London where the works of Gilbert and Sullivan were performed by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. The Savoy operas have been the main focus of the society although other light operatic productions and musicals are performed.

It was the 16th April 1934 when Hull Savoyards gave their first public performance in the presence of Sir Henry Lytton, the famous baritone and actor who was a member of the D’Oyly Carte Opera company. In 1935 Sir Henry Lytton became the President of the Hull Savoyards.

The first production for the Society was The Mikado performed at the Alexandra Theatre in Hull. Unfortunately this theatre was bombed during the war and The Hull New Theatre became the new home for Hull Savoyards. The society’s last production at The New Theatre was Bizet’s opera Carmen in 1997.

For details of the Society and current planned performances see: https://www.hullsavoyards.co.uk/hullsavoyards/

Description:

Performance programmes and posters of the Hull Savoyards Amateur Operatic Society. Includes a small number of their early performance programmes prior to the outbreak of the Second World War prior to their later performances taking place at the Hull New Theatre.

Formerly at reference L.782.8.