1960s
1960
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
Director: Ivy Hulme-Welch Choreographer: Pat Foulds Musical Director: Cyril Commins
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
'This lively Western depicting the amazing exploits of Wild West star Annie Oakley was produced at the Gaumont Theatre by Ivy Hulme-Welch, affectionately known as ‘Auntie Ivy’. Choreographer was Pat Foulds with her successful specialities. The orchestra was led by MD Cyril Commins, with great music by Irving Berlin.'
1961
KISMET
Director: Ivy Hulme-Welch Choreographer: Pat Foulds Musical Director: Cyril Commins
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘This Arabian gem with music based on themes by Borodin was an ambitious production with lavish costumes full of colour. A difficult musical, both technically and musically enabled the large cast of principals and chorus to be stretched to their full potential.’
1962
THE DESERT SONG
Director: Bernardo Quantrill Choreographer: Dennis Lowe Musical Director: Donald Carpenter
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘Produced at the Gaumont Theatre, this was Bernard Quantrill’s first show as Director, having previously appeared on stage with the Society. Another first for Dennis Lowe as Choreographer and also Donald Carpenter as MD of the Band of the Royal Marines with wonderful melodies of Sigmund Romberg.The stagibg of this musical cost around £3000, a fraction of the £35k it costs today’
ROSE MARIE
Director: Bernardo Quantrill Choreographer: Dennis Lowe Musical Director: Donald Carpenter
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘With the same production team again, this show takes a colourful trip to the Canadian Rockies, filled with gaiety, intrigue and romance. The large cast of Mounties, half-breeds, lumberjacks, trappers and traders delighted the audience with music by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart and book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein. The souvenir programme was one shilling.’
1963
FLOWER DRUM SONG
Director: Bernardo Quantrill Choreographer: Dennis Lowe Musical Director: Donald Carpenter
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘From the Canadian Rockies to San Francisco’s Chinatown this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical was full of colourful singing and dancing with a very large cast. With the same production team this was to be the last show for Donald Carpenter as MD of the Royal Marines as he moved from the area with the Service.’
WEST SIDE STORY
Director: Bernardo Quantrill Choreographer: Dennis Lowe Musical Director: Donald Carpenter
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘From the Canadian Rockies to San Francisco’s Chinatown this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical was full of colourful singing and dancing with a very large cast. With the same production team this was to be the last show for Donald Carpenter as MD of the Royal Marines as he moved from the area with the Service.’
1964
OKLAHOMA
Director: Bernardo Quantrill Choreographer: Pat Foulds Musical Director: A. C. Finney
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘Having followed the Society for many years this was my first show on stage. After the drama of West Side Story, this lovable feel-good show played to packed houses with the ‘Full House’ sign standing outside the Gaumont Theatre . Joining Bernard Quantrill and A.C. Finney of the Royal Marines, Pat Foulds was Choreographer with her excellent skills in the dream ballet scene. The horse used duly performed one night, and brought the house down, but sadly failed to repeat his performance on following nights to the disappointment of the cast.’
KISS ME KATE
Director: Bernardo Quantrill Choreographer: Dennis Lowe Musical Director: A. C. Finney
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘This great score of Cole Porter gave the Society another change of style and had some wonderful melodies. Dennis Lowe returned as Choreographer to join the team, as well as playing one of the male leads. Sadly from an audience point of view it played to poor houses in comparison to ‘Oklahoma’. Maybe Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew had something to do with it. Nevertheless a wonderful company show.’
1965
THE STUDENT PRINCE
Director: Bernardo Quantrill Choreographer: Dennis Lowe Musical Director: A. C. Finney
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘I’ll walk with God’ and ‘Drinking Song’ are just two memorable gems from this great Sigmund Romberg score. With the same production team this show was an operatic treat with fine ensemble singing. Of its time a popular show.’
SOUTH PACIFIC
Director: Bernardo Quantrill, Choreographer: Dennis Lowe, Musical Director: Keith Turton
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘A very popular show that saw some of the cast visit a chilly Felixstowe beach for publicity photos. Very successful production with Keith Turton joining as MD of the Royal Marines.’
1966
CAROUSEL
Director: Bernardo Quantrill Choreographer: Dennis Lowe Musical Director: Keith Turton
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘Yet another Rodgers and Hammerstein blockbuster. First presented by the Society in l957 at the Ipswich Hippodrome. This production saw Yvette Graves elevated from the dancers to join the production team as Ballet Mistress, playing Louise in the Ballet. A wonderful ensemble show with many tear-jerking moments.’
THE KING AND I
Director: Bernardo Quantrill Choreographer: Dennis Lowe Musical Director: Keith Turton
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘Staying with Rodgers and Hammerstein and the same production team, this proved to be a theatre jewel. Beautiful songs, dancing, costumes and numerous cute and talented children.’
1967
CAMELOT
Director: Bernardo Quantrill Choreographer: Sue Macer Musical Director: Roy Budden
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘This Lerner and Loewe production was the ‘Southern Amateur Premiere’ of this musical. It was very nearly the ‘National Premiere’, but two other amateur companies pipped the Society by a mere seven days. As Critic Diapason said ‘it was the most lavish and sumptuous show in the Society’s history’. With Bernard Quantrill again directing , the Choreographer was Sue Macer and for the first time a professional Capriol Orchestra of London under the direction of Roy Budden. The cast took a trip to Orford Castle for publicity photos and with original costumes from Drury Lane, this truly was a spectacular show. The Souvenir Programme was One Shilling.’
1968
GUYS AND DOLLS
Director: Bernardo Quantrill Choreographer: Christine Clarke Musical Director: Roy Budden
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘Damon Runyon‘s story of gambling, gangsters and dolls was a world away from King Arthur. This fast moving sleazy world mixing with the Salvation Army contained showstoppers such as ‘ Luck be a Lady’ and ‘Sit down you’re rockin the boat’ , to name but two. Joining Bernard Quantrill and Roy Budden on the production team was Christine Clarke as Choreographer. Sadly, as with ‘Camelot’ the show financially was not a success and with losses made, Peter Carley, Chairman, said it was vital to make sure the next production was a success for the continuous existence of the Society.’
MY FAIR LADY
Director: Bernardo Quantrill Choreographer: Christine Clarke Musical Director: Roy Budden
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘This was an amateur premiere for the Society shared with two other companies. A great boost for the Society to be granted permission with some 200 applications to NODA wanting to stage the show. Bookings went well and ‘House Full’ signs were on show again. One of the highlights was the Ascot Gavotte scene dressed entirely in black and white, which earned great applause from the audience each night when the curtain opened. Another great production by Bernard Quantrill and the Capriol Orchestra. It attracted a record attendance of 10,250 and earned a record gross income of £4,250. It cost a record breaking £3,750 to produce, a mere fraction of what it costs today.’
1969
THE NEW MOON
Director: Bernardo Quantrill Choreographer: Carole Wilden Musical Director: Roy Budden
Venue: The Gaumont Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich
‘A nice change to Sigmund Romberg’s show full of melody and colour. This show had a revolutionary flavour with lots of tough guys involved in brawls alternating with dances by pretty girls. Bernard Quantrill and Roy Budden were joined by Carole Wilden as Choreographer. Stephen Ball, the Society’s Business Manager, told the Evening Star that the Society expected to lose about £300. This, he said, was caused by two main factors, one being rising costs and the other being no increase in ticket prices.’