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Amateur group 100 not out

From the Evening Press, first published Monday 13th May 2002

YORK Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society is celebrating 100 years on the stage - and members say they are looking forward to the next 100.

The society celebrated with a slice of birthday cake after the last floor rehearsal of their celebratory production of My Fair Lady.

The cake was baked by veteran member Dorothy Pink, who has been in the society for more than 50 years.

Society chairman Jim Welsman said members were "very excited" about raising the curtain on the production at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday night.

Jim said: "It promises to be a great production. Much hard work is being put in, and the director, Paul Laidlaw, is a consummate professional who has pulled out all the stops."

Other celebratory events planned by the society, include a ball and a gala evening, both at the Barbican in July, and a youth section production of Bugsy Malone at the Grand Opera House in October.

A history of the society, written by Helen Mackman and entitled Memories By The Score, is due to go on sale on Wednesday.

The society's first production was Pirates Of Penzance, which played in the Festival Concert Rooms in 1903. Mr Welsman said: "It has been a great 100 years. Here's to the next 100."