Home
Season 2013/14
ROS is delighted to present ‘The Wiz‘ as the next Spring
production – 9th to 12th April 2014, 7:30pm
(Saturday matinee 2:30pm)
at the Winston Churchill Theatre.
About us
- Who we are
- History
- News
- Membership
- Committee
- Helping
- NODA
- Sponsors and Links
- Views
- Who we are
- History
- News
- Membership
- Committee
- Helping
- NODA
- Sponsors and Links
- Views
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ROS is a society full of lively, enthusiastic and talented people – but there’s always room for more…
As well as encouraging folk who want to sing, dance and act, we welcome those looking for a place to practise their set-designing, costume-making and tea-brewing skills.
Drop us a line, give us a call or come and see a show; a whole other world beckons.
If you’d like to get involved with the society and play some part in our future, onstage or off, give Membership Secretary Pam a call on 020 8954 5464.
Or go to the Contact Us page and send us an email. Tell us what you think of our shows or which ones you’d like to see. We’d love to hear from you.
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The Ruislip Musical Society came about as a result of a public meeting held on 17th December 1923. For many months the Society concentrated its efforts on rehearsals, building up a repertoire and adding willing volunteers to the list of members. The first public performance by the Society was a concert version of Merrie England given in April 1925. The handbills advertising the event politely stated that the Society “had spared no pains to do justice to the Opera and hopes it will be the first of many successes.” It was.
The Society decided to change its name to Ruislip Operatic Society in 1935.
In 1939, despite the outbreak of World War II, ROS made the decision to carry on – as far as possible – presenting at least one production each year. The Society is proud that it has maintained an unbroken run since 1925.
During the early war years the fear of imminent invasion led to the introduction of some imaginative schemes designed to confound an invading army. The Society played its part in the war effort by allowing the deletion of part of the word Ruislip from the front page of the programme for each show. Confusing enough for the locals, let alone an enemy force.
ROS continued to thrive in spite of the demands of the war. Tom Jones was performed in June to avoid as much of the blackout as possible and the 1943 show Blossom Time featured a male chorus chiefly comprised of Air Raid Wardens and Home Guards. On a more sinister note, the 1944 presentation of Katinka was performed to a finish despite the sound of the first “doodlebugs” passing overhead, during the finale of Act II.
The programme for the 1961 production of The Gypsy Baron observed that the show cost more than £500 to produce. Those were the days. The budget for each of today’s shows comes in at well over twenty thousand pounds and every seat must sell to make even a modest profit.
1972 was the year of the power crisis and the chorus regularly arrived at Thursday rehearsals for The Grand Duchess with candles and paraffin lamps, in case of power cuts.
ROS chose to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 1998 by presenting “the musical of the century”, My Fair Lady. Its appeal was confirmed when the show was sold out weeks before opening night. Since then, ROS has welcomed audiences to a range of productions; each designed to showcase the Society’s talents. From the swashbuckling fun of The Pirates of Penzance – Broadway Version to the dark complexities of Sweeney Todd, ROS does its best to make an impact on the audience.
NEWS 2013
- 18 Mar Easy Fundraising
- 18 Mar ROS at Duck Pond Markets
- 11 Mar Box office opens soon
- 01 Jan Come and join us
18 March Easy Fundraising
Easyfundraising – shop online and raise money for ROS.
18 March ROS at Duck Pond Markets
ROS will be promoting their next show ‘Oklahoma!’ at the Duck Pond Markets at the Manor Farm in Ruislip on the following dates 7 April, 21 April, 5 May and 19 May . Members: please let Ollie Spinks know if you can help.
Non-members: why not come and find out more about us and our shows.
11 March Box office opens soon
The OKlahoma! box office opens soon. So if you’re on the list for priority booking but haven’t sent your form back yet, you might want to do it today…
01 January Come and join us
We are always looking for new members, so why not come down to a rehearsal? Rehearsals take place every Thursday at St Martin’s Church Hall, Ruislip from 7.30pm.
Join in
We like to include all sorts of folk in the ROS mix. If you’ve seen one or two of our productions and you’re thinking about joining us on stage, come along and show us what you can do – we’re always happy to welcome new performing members.
Equally, we’d love to have you around if you’re handy with a paintbrush or a sewing machine or have a burning desire to shift scenery. And if you can brew a decent cuppa, we’ll probably dust off the red carpet…
MORE DETAIL Contact UsSomething for everyone
For those with a little less time to spare, becoming a Friend of ROS lets you support local theatre (for a nominal sum of £15 a year), gives you priority booking facilities, regular copies of the ROS newsletter – Tempo - and a nice warm glow.
Click on the button to contact us, and we’ll send you more details about the various levels of Society membership.
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Chairman – Malcolm Unwin
Vice Chairman – Oliver Spinks
Secretary – Janice Lim
Treasurer - Ian Green
Business Manager – David Hampton
Website and Publicity Manager – Fran Hampson
Social Secretary – Anastasia Morton
Membership Secretary – Pam Bailey
Committee Member - Helen Bailey
Helping
Please come and help us…
- Committee members
- Painting
- Set building
- Refreshments
- Chaperones
- Props
- Costumes
- Stage crew
- Publicity and leaflet distribution
Upcoming events to help with
Ruislip has talent…
Want to help with our next production? Do you have a flair for sewing? Would you like to make some costumes? Talent with a hammer? Help our set builders! Send us your details...
Get Involved!
Simply click the contact button below to get involved with Ruislip Operatic Society.
Noda
The National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) was founded in 1899 ‘to protect and advance the interests of Operatic and Dramatic Art, and of Societies engaged therein’. ROS is an active and enthusiastic member, one of 2,500 amateur societies and 3000 individual members throughout the UK.
The aims are…
• To give a shared voice to the amateur theatre sector
• To help amateur societies and individuals achieve the highest standards of best practice and performance
• To provide leadership and advice to enable the amateur theatre sector to tackle the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century
We are a small friendly group who perform twice a year at the Radlett Centre (www.radlettcentre.co.uk).
Stockists of all leading makes of dancewear.
We stock all your
dancewear needs.
Pointe shoe fitting, Teletone taps fitted, Character skirts in stock or made to measure, costumes made to your design, Irish dance shoes and socks, ballroom shoes, wedding shoes and Holy Communion shoes.
16 Long Drive, South Ruislip. 020 8845 7270
Projecting a powerful message to the right audience
at the right time…
Business cards, brochures, logos, flyers, adverts, exhibitions, marketing, html emails, presentations
and much more…
+44 20 8868 3737
contact@kineticmcd.co.uk
www.kineticmcd.co.uk
New look for us!
Maybe a new haircut for you?
Have a complimentary cup of tea or coffee and enjoy one of our treatments!
Very friendly atmosphere -
all are welcome.
5 Black Horse Parade, High Road, Eastcote
T: 020 8868 0796
Joel Veterinary Clinic
Consultations by appointment.
Monday to Friday
9-11.30am • 3-4pm • 5-7pm
Joel Street Farm, Eastcote,
Pinner HA5 2PD
T: 020 8868 3311
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Radlett Light Opera Society - Local theatre group
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Dance Partners - Stockists of dancewear
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Nazilia - Professional makeup artist
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Kinetic - Design Consultancy
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First Impressions - Hair Stylists
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Joel Veterinary Clinic - Vets
Just a few things people have said...
Past Productions
- 2013 Into the Woods
- 2013 Oklahoma!
- 2012 Pride and Prejudice
VIEW ARCHIVE »
- 2013 Into the Woods
- 2013 Oklahoma!
- 2012 Pride and Prejudice
2013 Into the Woods
Stephen Sondheim’s fractured musical fairytale revolves around a baker and his wife, a rapping witch, an angry giant and other fairytale characters as they journey Into the Woods, to live happily ever after… or do they?
2013 Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! is the first musical written Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein and tells the storoff cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farm girl Laurey Williams. A secondary romance concerns cowboy Will Parker and his flirtatious fiancée, Ado Annie.
Featuring songs: People Will Say We’re in Love, Surrey with a Fringe on Top, I Cain’t Say No and title song Oklahoma!
2012 Pride and Prejudice
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife”.
Here begins what is arguably Jane Austen’s best-loved story, with the arrival of the single, wealthy and charming Mr Bingley and his party into the town of Meryton. He meets the Bennets and so this classic story begins….
2012 Red Hot and Cole
A sparkling blend of biography and music, Red Hot & Cole celebrates the American songwriter who brought style, elegance and sophistication to the stages and soundstages of Broadway and Hollywood.
Featuring songs Night and Day, Anything Goes, Let’s Do It, and Love for Sale to name but a few – the show tells Cole’s life story.
2011 Musical Magic
A selection of songs from stage, film and even the pop charts. ROS and ROS stageworks took audience members through decades of popular, entertaining and – yes- musical magic.
Featured songs: Any Dream Will Do, There’s No Business Like Show Business, Let’s Twist Again, You’ll Never Walk Alone, America and All That Jazz.
2011 Hello Dolly
Dolly Levi, professional matchmaker and incorrigible meddler, sets out to capture the heart and wallet of the well-known Yonkers half-a-millionaire, Horace Vandergelder.
One of Broadway’s best-loved shows, this sparkling musical comedy features a host of hit songs, including Put On Your Sunday Clothes, Elegance and Hello, Dolly!
2010 Little Shop
Seymour Krelborn works in Mushnik’s Flower Store on Skid Row, alongside Audrey, the girl he secretly adores. Business is so bad that Mr Mushnik agrees to showcase the plant that mysteriously appeared to Seymour. Customers start flocking to admire it and buy up all of Mushnik’s stock. Sales continue to improve but one night, Seymour discovers the dark secret behind the plant’s fantastic powers; it wants blood, the fresher the better, and lots of it.
2010 Blitz!
Full of feisty characters and appealing songs, Lionel Bart’s Blitz! tells the story of an East End community fighting the battle of the home front in between the air raids, early in WWII.
Sending soldiers off to war and evacuees to a safer life in the country, those who are left to face Hitler’s bombs struggle to maintain some sort of normality, day to day.
2009 ‘Farndale’ Mikado
The ladies of The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Operatic Society brought their own special brand of musical theatre to Ruislip. Their show featured all The Mikado’s best bits, including quite a few of its most famous songs, but added a certain something. In fact, those who saw it wonder why anyone still bothers with the traditional version…
2009 Chess
The World Chess Championships are taking place against a Cold War backdrop. American faces Russian and feelings run high. Rivals in love as in chess, who will win the game? Away from the spotlight, political intriguers add to the atmosphere of mistrust and manipulation. Chess – lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson – sets the eternal love-triangle to song in a classic rock opera.
Gallery
- Shows
- Social
VIEW ARCHIVE »
- Shows
- Social
2013 Oklahoma!
2012 Pride and Prejudice
Awards 2012
2012 Red Hot and Cole
2011 Musical Magic
2011 Hello Dolly
2010 Little ShopROS StageWorks / ROS StageWorks Summer School
Theatre workshops for young people
An introduction – for anyone aged 7 to 17 – to the art of performing. Learn to act, sing and dance, regardless of any previous experience, in a safe, supportive environment.
Meeting every Saturday morning in Ruislip, contact Malcolm Unwin on 020 8866 3110 or click on the link below for more details.
Summer School for young people
An opportunity for young performers to take part in a specially adapted (junior) version of a well known musical, after a week of rehearsals and workshops. Audition for the chance to play a leading role or be an all-important member of the chorus.
Click on the link below for more details.
Contact us
We would appreciate your comments
If you have a query, comment or enquiry, please contact the relevant person listed in the box to the right. If you are unsure who to contact please email the general address and your enquiry will be forwarded to the correct person.
Advertising
Fran Hampson
publicity@ruislipos.org
Box Office
07905 932366
boxoffice@ruislipos.org
General Enquiries
Members
Pam Bailey
members@ruislipos.org
020 8954 5464
Production Secretary
Janice Lim
production@ruislipos.org
