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

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.

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

Strathpeffer » Strathpeffer History » Strathpeffer Events » Strathpeffer New School

Guests arriving

Mr. Duncan Mackay and Mrs. Moira Snodgrass

Dr Paddy Newton and Mr Neil Macdonald.

Guests arriving Dr.Newton, Mr. Neil MacDonald, Mr. George Tait and Dr. Kerr Yule

Fiona Hawthorn

Guests arriving P.7 children welcome Fiona Hawthorn, Community Centre manager

Viewing the school's new flag

The millennium flag is raised

23_lord_lieut.jpg

Speech by Dr Paddy Newton

Dr. Newton tells of her experiences at the old Fodderty School

Mr Duncan Macdonald, former head teacher, and Mrs Jean Macdonald.

Guests arriving Mr. MacDonald, former head teacher of Fodderty School, with his wife

Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty

Captain Roderick Stirling, Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty. On right of photo: Mr Hugh Fraser, Assistant Director of Education, Sir Neil Macintosh, Mrs Moira Snodgrass, head teacher. Guests Arriving

Councillor Margaret Paterson with pupils.

Guests Arriving

School pupils entertain - On violins

Anna, Jenny and Emily are playing the violin

Guests Arriving

Guests Arriving Three locals arrive for the opening ceremony

Formal proceedings over, everyone moved outside

?, Lord Lieutenant, Councillor J F Munro, ?, ?, ?, The Earl of Cromartie, ?, Councillor Margaret Paterson, ? The Earl of Cromartie and invited guests applaud the raising of the millennium flag.

The Cake

The special opening day cake bearing the school badge.

Speech by Councillor Val Maciver, chairman of the Education Committee.

School pupils entertain - On chanters

The chanter group entertains

School pupils entertain - A choir

P.5 entertain the audience with 'Marie's Wedding'

School Pupils Entertain - Another choir (conductor Kirsteen Menzies)

Strathpeffer Primary School choir

Cake cut by Sir Neil Macintosh assisted by two pupils

The two youngest pupils help to cut the cake, helped by Sir Neil MacIntosh, with Mrs Moira Snodgrass standing behind.

Viewing the school's new flag

Councillor Val MacIver being presented with a bouquet

Mrs Moira Snodgrass, head teacher, and Councillor Andy Anderson

Guests arriving Mrs. Snodgrass and Councillor Andrew Anderson

Rev Ivan Warwick and Councillor Douglas Briggs.

Guests arriving The Reverend Ivan Warwick, our School Chaplain, followed by Councillor Douglas Briggs

Councillor John Farquhar Munro and Mr Duncan Mackay

Guests arriving John Farquhar Munro, M.S.P., with Duncan Mackay

Mrs Moira Snodgrass and Peter Peacock

Peter Peacock, Deputy Minister for Finance and Local Government, Scottish Executive and Mrs Moira Snodgrass, Head Teacher Peter Peacock, MSP, and Mrs Snodgrass at the school gate

Unveiling the Plaque

Mrs Moira Snodgrass and Deputy Minister Peter Peacock after he had unveiled the commemorative plaque.

School pupils entertain - A small orchestra

The music group conducted by Mr. Kennedy

Peter Peacock presented with a shinty caman

Following his speech, Peter Peacock,Depute Minister for Finance and Local Government, Scottish Executive, was presented with a shinty caman.

Presentation of a shinty caman to Deputy Minister for Finance Peter Peacock

Piper Donald Armstrong with Mrs Snodgrass.

Guests Arriving Pipe Major Armstrong gets ready to pipe in the top table

The Plaque

The plaque reads: Strathpeffer Primary School and Strathpeffer Community Centre opened by Peter Peacock, MSP, Deputy Minister for Finance and Local Government, on 1 December 2000.

Then back for tea

After unveiling the plaque The top table guests arriving for the ceremony.

Mr Huisdean Campbell, shinty coach.

Guests arriving Uisdean, our shinty coach

The Top Table

Top table: Dr Paddy Newton, Councillor Val Maciver, Mrs Moira Snodgrass, Sir Neil Macintosh, Mr Peter Peacock, ?, Councillor Andy Anderson.

Concert Audience

The invited audience enjoying the music

Mr Hugh Fraser, assistant director of education, Mrs Moira Snodgrass and two guests.

Guests arriving Three generations of the Snodgrass family