During January of 1925 Lady Ruth Ballance – wife of eminent surgeon Sir Hamilton Ballance – invited people to a meeting.
And it was to discuss the formation of the Norfolk and Norwich Amateur Operatic Society (NNOS).
This coming Saturday (January 11), people will be gathering at the Theatre Royal to celebrate the centenary of this much-loved society with the launch of a new book by Adrian Wright.
It has quite a story to tell. One of survival and the ups and downs of life on and off the stage.
Lady Ballance as Dorothy in the first production by the Norfolk and Norwich Amateur Operatic Society in 1925 (Image: Submitted) In For One Week Only: A History of the Norfolk and Norwich Operatic Society 1925-2025, Adrian has captured and detailed each show, with anecdotes and details, creating a full and colourful picture of the life and times of the much-loved NNOS.
Adrian is no stranger to the society having made his debut playing the Ivor Novello role in the 1975 King’s Rhapsody, the society’s 50th anniversary production, and is also an accomplished theatre historian, biographer and novelist.
“Every production presented by the society will have its own essay,” he explains.
The Marriage Market musical comedy performed in 1930 which raised money for the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and the Jenny Lind (Image: NNOS) “Quite early on, I decided that everyone who has ever so much as walked onto the stage of any production would find their names in the book.
“It’s been a privilege and a pleasure to discover and reflect on so much of what the society has achieved from its beginnings in 1925.”
At the very beginning…
Thanks to Lady Ballance, who lived at All Saint’s Green, the society took shape during 1925, with leading members of the city and county involved.
Then in December, she made her way to the Theatre Royal where she was to be on the stage for the Norfolk and Norwich Amateur Operatic Society’s debut production, Dorothy.
A production of Camelot in 1977 (Image: NNOS) Lady Ruth was Dorothy and we described the operetta at the time as a “lavish production.”
Over the decades they have entertained us well with many lavish and colourful performances bringing so much pleasure to generations of music lovers.
It is going to be a special year for the society with a number of events taking place and the next production will be Singin’ in the Rain at the Theatre Royal from Tuesday, January 28 until Saturday, February 1.
Tickets are going fast.
A colourful performance of 42nd Street in 1995 (Image: NNOS) If you would like to attend the book launch at the Theatre Royal from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday, January 11, meet the author, get a copy at a discount and celebrate this special year for the society head to the theatre website for details.
Tickets are free but need to be reserved. The book will also be on sale in Jarrolds priced at £29.99.
So join me in a round of applause for the Norfolk and Norwich Operatic Society.