History of the Society
MAOS HISTORY
The Society was formed in 1927 as the Morley Technical Institute Amateur Operatic Society. (Technical Institute referring to the fact that the rehearsals were held as evening classes at Morley Grammar School through the Local Education Board.)
Our first production was The Mikado, performed at Morley Town Hall on the 8th, 9th and 10th of December 1927. Ticket prices were 1, 2 and 3 Shilling (5p, 10p and 15p).
Gilbert and Sullivan operettas were a popular choice for several years but gradually more mainstream musicals were included, and continued to be presented at Morley Town Hall until 1938.
As well as the main annual musical production, 1974 saw the first MAOS pantomime, which, combined with various social and fund raising events, has continued to keep members, committee and helpers busy (sometimes a little too busy.)
The Society has performed at various venues over the years. Productions resumed after the war and The Vagabond King was performed in 1948 at the Pavilion Cinema in Morley and productions continued there until the Pavilion closed. With comfortable seating for an audience of 800 the front of house facilities were ideal, but not so backstage. Wing space was very limited and dressing rooms were virtually non existent. Work on the stage couldn’t start until the last film had finished on the Saturday night, then the projection screen, speakers and equipment had to be taken out and replaced with backcloths and scenery. The dress rehearsal took place on the Sunday and the show started on the Monday.
In 1969 the Society returned to the Town Hall with The Desert Song. In 1972 the Society was proud to present the North-Eastern premiere of Pickwick. Harry Secombe who starred in the West End production kindly provided a photograph and a good luck message for the programme. He apologised for not being able to attend the show, as he was “doing a turn” elsewhere.
Our shows continued to be performed at Morley Town Hall until 1992 when we presented South Pacific. After the Thursday performance, (and thankfully during the night) sections of masonry fell from the ceiling and demolished several chairs, forcing the cancellation of the Friday and Saturday performances.
Because we could not be given an accurate timescale for the ceiling repairs, we had to look for an alternative venue for the next show. It was decided that, for the first time ever, we would present our show outside the much loved “Old Morley Borough”. A decision was made to stage the 1993 production of Half a Sixpence at the Civic Theatre in Leeds, as no other venue in Morley could meet all the society’s requirements.
It was a calculated gamble – would the reluctance of some of our patrons to travel to Leeds be offset by the potential of a wider theatre going audience further afield? Morley’s main musical productions continued at The Civic Theatre until 2004, so it seems the “Hobson’s Choice” decision was the correct one.
In 2001 Leeds City Council announced their intention to close the Civic Theatre and convert it into a museum. Despite opposition vigorously led by the Leeds Civic Arts Guild, the Civic Theatre closed in 2005. A replacement theatre was promised and the Guild was instrumental in fighting to protect the welfare of all the societies involved.
Because of uncertainty with the date that the new theatre (later named The Carriageworks) would be open we decided to return to Morley Town Hall in 2005 to present Musical Extravaganza. This was a spectacular compilation of songs, dances and routines from various musicals. This style of production did not need a large set or backcloths and was therefore suited to the comparatively limited stage facilities. The show was a huge success, and in 2007 we presented Musical Extravaganza 2, and again this was very well received in Morley. Our 2006 production of Crazy For You and Anything Goes in 2008 were both staged in The Carriageworks.
In September 2009 we returned to the Town Hall with When The Lights Go On Again, the show which followed a Morley family through the war years was one of our most successful ever. We are delighted that we continue to present our shows in the Town Hall.
2012 saw the completion of a programme of improvements to the Town Hall stage. (Further information)
A handful of our productions over the years have also been staged at Morley High (Grammar) School and Bruntcliffe High School.
1927 The Mikado
1928 Iolanthe
1929 Merrie England
1930 The Rebel Maid
1931 Ruddigore
1932 The Mikado
1933 Dorothy
1934 Princess Ida
1935 Pirates Of Penzance
1936 The Maid Of The Mountains
1937 The Vagabond King
1938 The Desert Song
1947 The Vagabond King
1948 The New Moon
1949 Maritza
1950 Lilac Domino
1951 Magyar Melody
1952 Rose Marie
1953 Viktoria And Her Hussar
1954 Carissima
1955 The Quaker Girl
1956 Showboat
1957 Waltz Without End
1958 Oklahoma!
1959 White Horse Inn
1960 Carousel
1961 The Merry Widow
1962 Wild Violets
1963 The Desert Song
1964 Summer Song
1965 Annie Get Your Gun
1966 Brigadoon
1967 Kismet
1968 Flower Drum Song
1969 The Desert Song
1970 The Merry Widow
1971 The King And I
1972 Pickwick
1973 Hello Dolly
1974 Dick Whittington
1974 Orpheus In The Underworld
1975 Jack And The Beanstalk
1975 The White Horse Inn
1976 Aladdin
1976 Oklahoma!
1977 Cinderella
1977 The Dancing Years
1978 Goody Two Shoes
1978 Quaker Girl
1979 Robinson Crusoe
1980 Mother Goose
1980 The Card
1980 Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
1981 Cinderella
1981 Annie Get Your Gun
1982 Dick Whittington
1982 No No Nanette
1983 Jack And The Beanstalk
1983 Hello Dolly
1984 Aladdin
1984 Pickwick
1985 Robinson Crusoe
1985 Guys And Dolls
1986 Cinderella
1986 Summer Song
1987 Mother Goose
1987 Orpheus In The Underworld
1988 Babes In The Wood
1988 My Fair Lady
1989 Sinbad The Sailor
1989 Fiddler On The Roof
1990 Jack And The Beanstalk
1990 Oklahoma!
1991 Dick Whittington
1991 The Merry Widow
1992 Aladdin
1992 South Pacific
1993 Robinson Crusoe
1993 Half A Sixpence
1994 Mother Goose
1994 Anything Goes
1995 Cinderella
1995 Sweet Charity
1996 Babes In The Wood
1996 Calamity Jane
1997 Snow White
1997 Guys And Dolls
1998 Aladdin
1998 Singin’ In The Rain
1999 Hansel And Gretel
1999 Hello Dolly
2000 Jack And The Beanstalk
2000 Annie
2001 Robinson Crusoe
2001 Oklahoma!
2002 Cinderella
2002 Oliver!
2003 Babes In The Wood
2003 South Pacific
2004 Mother Goose
2004 Sugar
2005 Dick Whittington
2005 Musical Extravaganza
2006 Snow White
2006 Crazy For You
2007 Aladdin
2007 Musical Extravaganza 2
2008 Hansel And Gretel
2008 Anything Goes
2009 Sinbad The Sailor
2009 When The Lights Go On Again
2010 Jack And The Beanstalk
2010 Return To The Forbidden Planet
2011 Goldilocks and The Three Bears
2011 Oliver!
2012 Dick Whittington
2012 Wizard of OZ
2013 Babes In The Wood
2013 Guys And Dolls
2014 Cinderella
2014 Musical Extravaganza III
2015 Snow White
2015 When The Lights Go On Again
2016 Aladdin
2016 Fiddler On The Roof
2017 Peter Pan
2017 Sweet Charity
2018 Sleeping Beauty
2018 Billy
2019 Jack and the Beanstalk
2019 Musical Extravaganza IV
2020 Cinderella
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the Society is ‘To educate the public in the Dramatic and Operatic Arts and to further the development of public appreciation and taste of the said arts’. Although the wording of this now seems a little archaic, our aims remain the same and we always make sure we enjoy ourselves whilst achieving our objective.
HOW YOU CAN BECOME INVOLVED
MAOS are constantly on the lookout for new members, helpers and sponsors. Do you have an interest in acting or singing? Are you new to the area and at a loose end? Can you sew or are you into scenic painting or woodwork? Can you spare a few hours for the week of the show to sell programmes?
Whatever your talent, we can put it to good use. Get in touch or call in to see us. We are a friendly group of like minded enthusiasts and we believe we are “Amateurs” in name only. We also enjoy an active social life.
MAOS would also be delighted to hear from business owners in the area with a view to developing a mutually rewarding partnership.
We are affiliated to the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) www.noda.org.uk
Morley Amateur Operatic Society is a registered charity. No 500601

Costume Hire
We have an extensive wardrobe and props department which is available for hire. Further details and photographs to be updated shortly.
Meet the Committee

Linda Rowberry
Committee President

Tina 'Tacker' Riordan
Wardrobe Mistrress

David Hann
Musical Director

Ian Hartley
Treasurer

Stuart Wilson
Stage Manager

Tom Daley
Web Master

Judith Phillips
Front of House Manager

Steven Holt
Business Manager | Ticket & Patron Secretary

Andrea Holt
Ticket & Patron Secretary, Props Master

Sadie Roberts
Secretary

Melanie Harris
Child Protection Officer

Julie Doree
Publicity Officer & Subscription Secretary

Joanne Cooke
Saturday Leader

Simon Phillips
Committee Member

Amy Haley
Committee Member
