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The Society was formed in Summer 1968, so we are informed on
the back of the very first programme, when a group of choral music enthusiasts
“got together” with the idea, in the first place of singing Gilbert &
Sullivan for pleasure. At first they only intended to
give a concert version of one of the works. Numbers grew rapidly once
rehearsals started in the September of 1968 and it was decided to present, in
May 1969, a “Sketch-Book” production of The Gondoliers at the
Civic Hall in Camberley for one night and at the Salesian College
in Farnborough on the following night. A narrator was used as time precluded
them from undertaking all the dialogue, some of the costumes were made by the
members and some for the Duke of Plazo-Toro and Party were supplied by a costumier. Scenery was
minimal and the orchestra consisted of a piano, two cornets and percussion
under the direction of the Musical Director and Producer, Douglas Brightmore.
The Cachucha in Act 2 was danced by students of Elmhurst Ballet
School.
GONDOLIERS 1969
This production was followed in 1970 by a fully staged
production of Iolanthe for three nights at the Civic Hall, Camberley (now The
Camberley Theatre). Douglas Brightmore was still the Musical Director and the
orchestra had increased by an oboe! A producer, Peter Joslin, directed the
action and a choreographer was also used. Two of our present members appeared
in this second production. Iris Johnston who has appeared in nearly every production
of The Savoy Singers since that time and Vivien
Andrews who though not presently performing, continues to
work tirelessly on Committee, formerly as Chairman and now as Business Manager.
 
PIRATES OF PENZANCE 1985 HMS PINAFORE 1989
From this point to the present, the Society has performed a
Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta every year up to the present production of The
Mikado in 2009. Two other early members who still perform on stage are Bob
Cousins who first appeared in 1973 in Ruddigore and his wife Ann who appeared
with him the following year in 1974 in the first Mikado. Bob and Ann have also
worked tirelessly for the group, Bob as a former Chairman and on the Committee
and Ann as Secretary.
   
1969 1973 1988 1996
Looking at the old programmes it is interesting to see how
the society has developed. The orchestra increasing in strength from the early
days to the 17 players we often have today. Superb costumes were hired from Charles
H. Fox of London
whereas today we have the choice of innumerable costumiers and scenery stores.
Programmes started as a folded A4 card until 1972 when they became glossy and
adverts and photographs first appeared. Today our colourful 16 page programmes have
won several NODA awards. Even our venue has changed its name from The Civic
Hall to ArtsLink and now The Camberley Theatre.
In the early years, the Society provided the supporting
Chorus for John Heddle Nash Concerts put on at The Camberley Civic Hall and
this developed into the production of a Summer Concert.
   
DIE FLEDERMAUS LA BELLE HELENE 1993 CHESS 1997
CALL ME MADAM
1992
2007
In 1992 under the direction of a new Musical Director,
Richard Stockton, the Society decided to present two shows a year. One would
remain faithful to The Savoy Singers name and be a Gilbert & Sullivan and
the second would be a light operetta. For this first year of presenting two
shows, Die Fledermaus was chosen and later this year we will be again
performing Die Fledermaus at The Camberley Theatre from October 7th
– 10th. This proved successful with members and audiences and we
have continued to produce two shows a year ever since. The Society has gone
from strength to strength, with every aspect of the productions, both artistic and technical, meriting as professional an
approach as could be managed. We are grateful indeed to our behind the scenes
helpers - volunteers to stage manage and crew, to hire and assemble costumes,
to dress wigs and apply make-up, design lighting, make and collect properties
and run front of house. As a result, several of the Gilbert & Sullivan
productions have received a NODA Award of Excellence.
The Savoy Singers has been involved in many other associated
activities throughout its 40 years. These include visiting and performing in
Camberley’s twin town of Beitigheim and
welcoming and hosting a return visit from Beitigheim when they came with choir
and orchestra and sung Handel’s Messiah in St. Paul’s Church, Camberley. Members appeared in several Michael Barrymore
Television Shows and as extras in the film Topsy Turvy. The Society has
performed on four separate occasions at the Buxton International Gilbert &
Sullivan Festival and several of our members have won awards for performance
there, including Sue Prior, Ian Henderson and Gary
Maslen.
 
OF THEE I SING 2006 ANYTHING GOES
2005
Our ethos continues to be, as in 1968, to welcome all-comers
of any age who want to sing and perform Gilbert & Sullivan. We also provide
the opportunity for our membership to perform other musical shows. We have been
fortunate so far to maintain a certain financial freedom to choose a second
musical show which is not always well-known or commercially popular and bring
it to production. So many delightful musicals and operetta are not performed
professionally because they are not deemed to be financially viable. The
amateur stage, so far, has been able to keep some of these shows alive. Some of
our productions include the two Gershwin musicals Strike Up
the Band and Of Thee I Sing, and lesser known Gilbert & Sullivan
like The Grand Duke and Utopia Limited as well as The Rose of
Persia which has music by Sullivan but a libretto by Basil Hood. We think
that if enough amateur groups are able to keep these lesser known musicals
alive that this may be instrumental in sparking a revival and presently the
Gershwin’s Of Thee I Sing is in production by Opera North!
 
RUDDIGORE 2007 IOLANTHE 2008
What will the next 40 years bring, I wonder? Let us hope
that they are as successful as the last 40 and that we continue to develop our
society, taking on new ideas and new technology, managing our finances to make
it all possible. Singing and performing are considered to be very valuable,
healthy pursuits in this world of stress at work and at home. We hope many more
people of all ages will join us and discover the enjoyment and the active fun
of an evening singing and in production. We are presently looking for a revival
of Gilbert & Sullivan in the choice of schools’ performances. What could be
more fun than being a pirate or policeman or bridesmaid or even Japanese? The
Gilbert & Sullivan operettas offer big chorus numbers which involve many
children, some reduced orchestrations which school orchestras can attempt and a
stage for those whose voices and acting ability merit solo work. Many people
who have joined us over the years have had their first taster at school; others
say joining the society is the best thing they ever did. Certainly over the last forty years, the
weekly rehearsals and enjoyment of show week, as the culmination of six months
hard work, have proved a relaxation from the pressures of every day life for
many. They would recommend amateur operatics as a highly rewarding, healthy and
inexpensive hobby. Long may it continue.
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