Status: Amateur
Address: 89 Middleton Hall Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B1 1QL
Region: West Midlands, West Midlands
Contact Name: John Spencer
History: “BMOS is one of the great success stories of amateur theatre†(Centre Stage Magazine) Wednesday 16th June 1886 – By Special Permission of Mr D’Oyly Carte “H.M.S PINAFORE†The “Birmingham Opera Society†was founded in 1886 and the “Midland Opera Society†in 1916. In 1927 the two companies merged to become the Birmingham and Midland Operatic Society (BMOS) and the rest, as they say, is history. In the early years, productions were mainly Gilbert & Sullivan Operettas and this continued until 1922 when “The Mikado†was the last Gilbert & Sullivan work to be performed for many years. In 1899 one of the founder members of the Birmingham Opera Society, Mr Herbert H Monckton, was also one of the pioneers of The National Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Association. Mr Monckton was the first Vice-President and the second to hold the position of President. Some years later the word “Amateur†was dropped from the title and it became The National Operatic and Dramatic Association or N.O.D.A as it has come to be known. In January 1900 our programme for “The Mikado†was the first programme to carry the familiar “Affiliated to the National Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Associationâ€. First performing at the Birmingham Institute, the Birmingham Opera Society started performing annually at professional theatres from 1923. “Dorothy†was the first production at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre and the Society continued to put on musical shows at the original Alexander Theatre in John Bright Street (rebuilt 1935), The Prince of Wales Theatre (destroyed in April 1941) and the Theatre Royal in New Street until the advent of the Second World War. Performances came to an abrupt halt in 1939 and during the Second World War members of BMOS, not in uniform, formed concert parties and entertained troops in barracks and hospitals for the duration. After the war, the members of BMOS regrouped , but with no funds, shows were performed on a shoe-string with homemade scenery and costumes – the first being “Scrapbook 1†in 1947. “Scrapbook 1†was followed by other productions at the Birmingham and Midland Institute and the Palace Theatre Redditch. Then in 1955 the Society returned to Birmingham’s famous Theatre Royal presenting “The Vagabond King†to record profits of £900. In December 1956 the Theatre Royal was demolished to make way for a new Woolworth Store and office block and one year later BMOS made the move to the Birmingham Hippodrome – “White Horse Inn†opened on 25th November 1957. The relationship between BMOS and the Birmingham Hippodrome continued with regular annual performances until a major theatre refurbishment in 2000. Over the years there have been many many high spots..........including the 1985 production of Hans Anderson (the lead role being taken by our current Chairman – John Spencer) which used London Palladium sets and radio mics for the first time, a Civic Reception at the Council House in 1986 to celebrate our Centenary, the Midlands Premier of 42nd Street which sold out five weeks before the show and received rave reviews .... “For the first time in my reviewing career, I can honestly say that this show would not have been bettered by many professional productions†Gerald Smith – Express and Star ........the semi professional production of Cavalcade in 1995, the standing room only production of Sound of Music in 1997 and the Hippodrome’s very own Gala Concert to celebrate the Centenary of the theatre in 1999. BMOS has entertained tens of thousands of people for over 126 years and raised many thousands of pounds for local charities. The Society has also helped foster many stars of stage and screen including Birmingham’s very own Kathryn Rooney who has headlined many a Hippodrome Panto and most recently starred in Calendar Girls on the London stage, Jon Boyden currently a lead player in Jersey Boys in the West End and Margaret Preece who appeared in, and was the singing voice of Carlotta (Minnie Driver) in the film of The Phantom of the Opera. More recently, from 2000 to 2003 during the refurbishment of the Hippodrome, BMOS relocated to The Crescent Theatre performing two shows a year and changed its name to BMOS Musical Theatre Company. Returning to the Hippodrome in 2004 BMOS performed West Side Story, 42nd Street (2005), Thoroughly Modern Millie (2007) and most recently, Birmingham’s very own Wallop Mrs Cox (2010) with Heart FMs Ed James taking the lead role. 2012 saw yet more firsts, with BMOS performing at Birmingham’s Artsfest to an enthusiastic full house, supporting our 2012 sponsor Deloitte at their Christmas celebrations in St Martin’s in the Bull Ring......and now in 2013, for the first time in over 80 years, BMOS is excited to be returning to Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre with a production of the iconic “Carouselâ€. After 127 years entertaining audiences throughout the Midlands, BMOS continues to thrive. We look forward to the new challenges of the next 100 years.............. John Spencer (BMOS Chair)
Website: www.bmosmusicals.org
Phone: 0121 459 4728
Email: john.spencer89@btinternet.com
Number of members: 55
Productions per year: 2
Performances per run: 6
Regular Venues: New Alexandra Theatre,Birmingham Hippodrome, Crescent Theatre
Does the society run a youth group?: Yes
Associated Admins
Name | Username | Photo |
---|---|---|
Paul Johnson | MrSardines2 | ![]() |
Admins can request Sardines reviews, upload shows and add auditions
BMOS Musical Theatre Company
Report Society- : Amateur
- : West Midlands
- : West Midlands
- : John Spencer
- : 89 Middleton Hall Road
- : Kings Norton
- : Birmingham
- : West Midlands
- : B30 1AG
- : “BMOS is one of the great success stories of amateur theatre†(Centre Stage Magazine) Wednesday 16th June 1886 – By Special Permission of Mr D’Oyly Carte “H.M.S PINAFORE†The “Birmingham Opera Society†was founded in 1886 and the “Midland Opera Society†in 1916. In 1927 the two companies merged to become the Birmingham and Midland Operatic Society (BMOS) and the rest, as they say, is history. In the early years, productions were mainly Gilbert & Sullivan Operettas and this continued until 1922 when “The Mikado†was the last Gilbert & Sullivan work to be performed for many years. In 1899 one of the founder members of the Birmingham Opera Society, Mr Herbert H Monckton, was also one of the pioneers of The National Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Association. Mr Monckton was the first Vice-President and the second to hold the position of President. Some years later the word “Amateur†was dropped from the title and it became The National Operatic and Dramatic Association or N.O.D.A as it has come to be known. In January 1900 our programme for “The Mikado†was the first programme to carry the familiar “Affiliated to the National Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Associationâ€. First performing at the Birmingham Institute, the Birmingham Opera Society started performing annually at professional theatres from 1923. “Dorothy†was the first production at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre and the Society continued to put on musical shows at the original Alexander Theatre in John Bright Street (rebuilt 1935), The Prince of Wales Theatre (destroyed in April 1941) and the Theatre Royal in New Street until the advent of the Second World War. Performances came to an abrupt halt in 1939 and during the Second World War members of BMOS, not in uniform, formed concert parties and entertained troops in barracks and hospitals for the duration. After the war, the members of BMOS regrouped , but with no funds, shows were performed on a shoe-string with homemade scenery and costumes – the first being “Scrapbook 1†in 1947. “Scrapbook 1†was followed by other productions at the Birmingham and Midland Institute and the Palace Theatre Redditch. Then in 1955 the Society returned to Birmingham’s famous Theatre Royal presenting “The Vagabond King†to record profits of £900. In December 1956 the Theatre Royal was demolished to make way for a new Woolworth Store and office block and one year later BMOS made the move to the Birmingham Hippodrome – “White Horse Inn†opened on 25th November 1957. The relationship between BMOS and the Birmingham Hippodrome continued with regular annual performances until a major theatre refurbishment in 2000. Over the years there have been many many high spots..........including the 1985 production of Hans Anderson (the lead role being taken by our current Chairman – John Spencer) which used London Palladium sets and radio mics for the first time, a Civic Reception at the Council House in 1986 to celebrate our Centenary, the Midlands Premier of 42nd Street which sold out five weeks before the show and received rave reviews .... “For the first time in my reviewing career, I can honestly say that this show would not have been bettered by many professional productions†Gerald Smith – Express and Star ........the semi professional production of Cavalcade in 1995, the standing room only production of Sound of Music in 1997 and the Hippodrome’s very own Gala Concert to celebrate the Centenary of the theatre in 1999. BMOS has entertained tens of thousands of people for over 126 years and raised many thousands of pounds for local charities. The Society has also helped foster many stars of stage and screen including Birmingham’s very own Kathryn Rooney who has headlined many a Hippodrome Panto and most recently starred in Calendar Girls on the London stage, Jon Boyden currently a lead player in Jersey Boys in the West End and Margaret Preece who appeared in, and was the singing voice of Carlotta (Minnie Driver) in the film of The Phantom of the Opera. More recently, from 2000 to 2003 during the refurbishment of the Hippodrome, BMOS relocated to The Crescent Theatre performing two shows a year and changed its name to BMOS Musical Theatre Company. Returning to the Hippodrome in 2004 BMOS performed West Side Story, 42nd Street (2005), Thoroughly Modern Millie (2007) and most recently, Birmingham’s very own Wallop Mrs Cox (2010) with Heart FMs Ed James taking the lead role. 2012 saw yet more firsts, with BMOS performing at Birmingham’s Artsfest to an enthusiastic full house, supporting our 2012 sponsor Deloitte at their Christmas celebrations in St Martin’s in the Bull Ring......and now in 2013, for the first time in over 80 years, BMOS is excited to be returning to Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre with a production of the iconic “Carouselâ€. After 127 years entertaining audiences throughout the Midlands, BMOS continues to thrive. We look forward to the new challenges of the next 100 years.............. John Spencer (BMOS Chair)
- : www.bmosmusicals.org
- : https://www.facebook.com/bmosmusicals
- : https://twitter.com/bmosmusicals
- : 0121 459 4728
- : john.spencer89@btinternet.com
- : 55
- : 2
- : 6
- : New Alexandra Theatre,Birmingham Hippodrome, Crescent Theatre
- : Yes
Past Productions
Production name | Author Credit | Main Image | Venue | Date of production |
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