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Romiley Operatic Society - also known as ROS - is an amateur group dedicated to keeping performing arts alive and attainable for everyone. If you ever wanted to sing, act or help with any aspect of theatre production then come along and have fun. We always need new blood (especially male), you can be assured of a warm welcome, and you may be treading the boards before you know it!
The History of ROS
In 1930, a group of musically minded people put on a concert to raise funds to endow a bed at Stockport Infirmary. From this group Romiley Operatic Society was born and put on their first show, "The Yeoman of the Guard", at Hatherlow Sunday School in 1931. Apart from the war years they have put on a musical every year since - over 80 in total, at venues such as the Savoy Cinema, Romiley (1936-1956), the Theatre Royal, Hyde (1957-1972) and the Davenport Theatre, Stockport (1973-1997). From 1977 they performed two shows per year, the autumn show being presented from 1977-1997 at the Forum Theatre in Romiley.
Romiley were the last society to perform at the Davenport theatre in Stockport before it was pulled down (and rumours that the two events are connected have no substance...). Romiley had to find a new, albeit temporary home at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester in 1998 and 1999. 2000 saw a return to Stockport and a performance of 'Half a Sixpence' at the Forum Theatre, Romiley.
The long-awaited re-opening of the Stockport Plaza in 2001 saw Romiley return to the centre of Stockport with Anything Goes, which won an incredible 5 awards at the Manchester Musical Awards that year. Since then, ROS have performed shows at the Plaza in March of each year, Carousel, Chess, Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof and Hot Mikado.
Romiley have also been involved in Showcase for the last 13 years or so, performing excerpts from shows such as Jersey Boys, Buddy, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Miss Saigon, and Les Miserables.
Syd Howorth, long-time ROS member,produced a book chronicling 75 years of ROS as part of the 75th Anniversary celebrations - please contact us for more details.
Officers of the Society
Geoffrey Pickford - President
Bob Howorth - Chairman
Denise Carter - Vice Chairman
Eleanor Wales - Treasurer
Ann Stevenson - Production Secretary
Sharon Chapman - Secretary
Committee Members
Jean Blane
David Campbell
Dennis Carter
Andrea Chawner
Sue Elliott
David Ennis (Social Committee Chair)
Leon Shufflebotham
Elaine Wilkins
Social Committee Members
Jenny Boyd
Annette McGivern
Heather Manuel
Membership Secretary
Joanne Hartley
To contact any member of ROS, email
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