Amateur Operatic Society ⋆ Ross and Cromarty Heritage

Amateur Operatic Society

Attribution: unknown (The ruin of Free Church in Jamestown)

Introduction

The Chairman of the Strathpeffer Amateur Operatic Society, John M.M. Fleck, in his Foreword to the programme of ‘The Yeoman of the Guard’ (1971) wrote –

The Strathpeffer Amateur Operatic Society began in 1958, and ever since has been delighting audiences with its performances of Gilbert and Sullivan Operas. Its reputation has been achieved by much hard work and co-operation, but three people stand out as those most responsible for its high standards.

Lt. Col. Olaf Macleod, was the Society’s founder and Chairman until 1970. The magnificent costumes and scenery which characterize our productions have been designed, and in many cases made, by him. He has directed the Society’s affairs with great wisdom and energy, and its members fully realise how much they owe him and his wife.

The heavy responsibilities of these twelve years have taken their toll of time and health, and for the time being Colonel and Mrs Macleod are taking a rest from active participation in the Society.

We are fortunate in still having Mr Fred Henson who has been Musical Director from the beginning. His quiet but thorough training of the singers has given great pleasure to both members and audiences. This year he achieves his ambition of having an Orchestra to bring out the beauties of Sullivan’s fine score. Next year for the first time we shall be tackling a non-Gilbert and Sullivan Opera.

If you would like to take part in this production and are not at present a member of the Society, please complete the tear-out portion on page 5 and hand in to the Box Office as you leave the hall.

Attribution: unknown

Elizabeth Burns recalled in January 2002 the following

Col. Olaf Macleod (founder member and Chairman) designed, and, with some assistance, physically made the sets for the G. and S. operas. Being employed by the Hydro Electric he had available large stocks of strong cardboard (the cartons in which cookers, fridges, etc. were packed). He himself painted the back-cloths. He also designed all the costumes for G. & S. and these were made by the company. At the AGMs Olaf would show us a minature set painted in a shoe box with full backcloth and wings and one or two cardboard cutout figures in costume.

After 1970 costumes were designed by Elizabeth Burns, Esther Jones and Ruth Gilvray. Sets were (mainly) by John Crawford.

John Fleck, who produced most of the later Viennese and other operettas, organised the moves he wanted the cast to make, with a supply of pennies and halfpennies, labelled with the letter or number of each chorus member. These he moved about on his table and wrote down the resulting positions for instruction of the chorus.

Attribution: unknown

Productions

1959 The Mikado
1960 HMS Pinafore
1961 The Gondoliers
1962 Iolanthe
1963 Princess Ida
1964 The Yeomen of the Guard
1965 The Mikado
1966 The Gondoliers
1967 Patience
1968 Pirates of Penzance
1969 Iolanthe
1970 Ruddigore
1971 The Yeomen of the Guard
1972 The Merry Widow
1973 The Maid of the Mountains
1974 The Mikado
1975 Die Fledermaus
1976 Gipsy Queen
1977 The Pirates of Penzance
1978 White Horse Inn
1979 Glorious Gilbert and Sullivan
1980 Lilac Time
1981 The Merry Widow
1982 La Vie Parisienne

Attribution: unknown

View photographs from some of the productions

We have received some photographs from some of the productions which we have included in albums on this page. We also have further details of a couple of the productions, so please do visit the pages for more information.

Click on photo album to view thumbnails and then click thumbnail to see the full size images

Strathpeffer » Strathpeffer Social » Strathpeffer Primary School » Strathpeffer Primary September

Alasdair and Joe visit the Kilvannie Stone - photo 1

The two pupils of who took the photos of the stone when they were in P6 - Alasdair Mackenzie and Joe Burr - Katie Mackenzie has now helped them with the research .

Alasdair and Joe visit the Kilvannie Stone - photo 2

East face of the stone. Joe and Alasdair went to visit the famous Kilvannie Stones. They are about 100 metres away from Fodderty Primary, our old school. There is an old old story about how they came to be there.

Alasdair and Joe visit the Kilvannie Stone - photo 3

East cup, The story of Kilvannie Stones. Long ago there were giants who liked to have contests. They would go up to Knockfarrel and get huge stones and throw them over the hill. But one day the weather spoilt people's sport, and when the foot holds were slippery the stones, instead of clearing the valley, landed deep in the hollow. The big grooves in the stone are the giants' finger and thumb marks which are still there this day.

Alasdair and Joe visit the Kilvannie Stone - photo 4

West face of the stone. One of the giants had killed all the local wives and children was beheaded. All the other giants went into the cave at Munlochy called Craig Howe and fell asleep.

Alasdair and Joe visit the Kilvannie Stone - photo 5

West cup. Centuries passed. Then one day a shepherd chanced on the cave and went inside and saw before him the giants and their hounds stretched out sleeping. Above the door there was a hunting horn which he took down and put to his lips. As he blew he noticed that the giant's eyes were now open but they did not move. He blew again and the giant sat straight up. Unnerved, the shepherd fled and the giants shouted 'Wretch , you have left us worse than you found us!' And that is the story of Kilvannie Stones.

Mosaic Day

WHEN Age Concern worker Linda Odd helped organise an arts session during Older People's Week in the Strathpeffer Community Centre last October, four mosaic panels representing "The Seasons" were produced by older people who worked with pupils from Primary 7 of Strathpeffer School. The plan was to exhibit the panels on the walls in the Community Centre, but as yet the panels which measure two feet by one, remain hidden from view. "We are still looking for someone to frame the four panels," explained Linda. Extract and picture from 'The Highland News'

Mosaic Day - photo 1

During older people's week in the community centre, P7 helped to create mosaics.

Mosaic Day - photo 2

Fraser MacArthur , Mark Wallis and Alasdair MacKenzie helped the ladies with the summer mosaic.

Mosaic Day - photo 3

Two ladies enjoying the activity.

Mosaic Day - photo 4

The summer panel under way.

Mosaic Day - photo 5

Anna, Leanna(with jug) and Mrs Fraser who lives in Fodderty.

Mosaic Day - photo 6

Emma White, Jason Manson, Emily Gray, Mathew Sharples and Cara Belli.

Mosaic Day - photo 7

Mathew Sharples, Cara Belli help three of the ladies with the spring panel.

Mosaic Day - photo 8

S for September

Unknown Productions

While creating this website we found some photos from the Operatic Society which weren’t associated with any production. If anyone knows which production any of these photos belongs to, please contact us and let us know.