60 Diamond years in amateur theatre

Eileen Columbine Thompson

I STILL cannot believe that I am celebrating 60 years as a member of the North Manchester Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society.

I began singing at the age of six in a group called "Clever Young Folk" at the Madame Robinson Dancing School in Blackley and when I became old enough I joined my mother, my two sisters and other members of our family in the choir at St Oswalds in Collyhurst, where I sang for many years. My mother had a wonderful singing voice and related the tale of when she and her twin brother, Steve (whilst still school children) were taken by Hansom Cab to sing in a concert at the Gaiety Theatre in Manchester.

At the age of 14 in 1942, my mother took me to see The Dancing Years at the Palace Theatre in Manchester in which the great Ivor Novello was playing the leading role. An announcement was made from the stage that auditions were being held the following Saturday morning for his next production, which was going to be Perchance to Dream.

My mother encouraged me to attend, along with 1,000 hopefuls, where we queued for over four hours. My turn eventually came and the pianist was most perturbed because I had not brought any music and did not know which key I wanted to sing in. I told him that I had heard Mary Ellis, the leading lady in The Dancing Years sing "Waltz of My Heart" in the show and would sing that song in the same key (he must have thought I was mad!). I stopped singing after the verse, thinking that was all they required but a voice boomed out from the auditorium asking me to carry on. I sang the song the whole way through -feeling quite nervous because I thought I would not stand a chance.

Imaging my delight when I was asked to return on Moday along with two other people that Ivor Novello had chosen. Then came the blow when he asked my age and I informed him that I was 14. He told me that unfortunately I would have to be 18 before I could join him in his shows and that I should come back then.

I was bitterly disappointed but glad that I had been given the opportunity to sing before such a great man as Ivor Novello. Of course, by the time I was 18 I was so engrossed in the Amateur Theatre, wild horses wouldn't have me leave.

Big break

I first became involved with the North Manchesters after reading an advertisement in the local newspaper asking for people to come along to the Simpson Memorial Hall in Moston on the following Friday evening as they were hoping to re-start the Society after a six year break due to the war.

So it was at the age of 16 in 1945 that I made my first appearance in the chorus in a concert version of Merrie England, The Arcadians was their next production at the Queens Park Hippodrome where I was given my first small part. I was loving every minute of it and to my delight was given my first leading role in 1947 playing the part of Violet Gray in Belle of New York as a Salvation Army girl. My mother thought this was appropriate as I was born in Crossley Home, which was run by the Salvation Army. The updated version is. of course, Guys and Dolls.

I was very fortunate to play many leading roles in the years to follow and was really excited when asked to play the lead in the North West Premiere of Annie Get Your Gun at the Queens Park Hippodrome which had been closed because of its derelict condition but re-opened its doors to accommodate this show, despite a leaking roofing, rotting floorboards and other difficulties. The audiences were tremendous and the theatre was full to capacity every night.
The Society then moved to play at the Cintra cinema on Rochdale Road which again was in a sorry sate, but we were grateful that they could accommodate us.

Oklahoma! was performed there and we had a choreographer that year who was also the choreographer for the North Cheshire Society which played at the Regal cinema in Altrincham. She wrote to the North Manchester Committee asking if it would be possible for me to play the part of Anne in their next production of Annie Get Your Gun. This was agreed, so off I went to play for the North Cheshire. I was than approached by Knutsford Operatic Society to play the lead in Lilac Domino. I remember it was the foggiest week in history and, of course, the journey form Manchester to Knutsford was no easy task in the 1950s.

My big break came in 1957 when the Simpson Memorial Operatic Society (as North Manchester Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Soicety was then known) decided to take a gamble which would either make or break the Society.
This was to play at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. I played the part of Julie in Showboat which was the society's first production there under its new name of the North Manchester Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society. It was a great success — playing to full houses every night.

There followed shows such as Wild Violets and South Pacific in which Malcolm Roberts and Colin Baker played. They then went on to pursue (very successful) professional careers and Colin is still treading the boards.
Many happy years followed, not only playing for the North Manchesters, but for Middleton Operatic Society in shows such as White Horse Inn, Brigadoon, New Moon and Fiddler on the Roof.

I won my first Oscar along with Ernest Ashton (a stalwart of Middleton Operatic Society) when we played together in South Pacific.

Two Oscars

In December of the same year, 1960, I was thrilled to receive another Oscar for the part of Anna in the North Manchesters' production of The King and I at the Palace Theatre. I was honoured indeed to be the first leading lady to receive two Oscars in the same year.

I have never regretted not getting in touch with Ivor Novello at the age of 18 because my time with the Amateur Theatre has been my life and it is, of course, where I met my husband, Edward Thompson and numerous lifelong friends — too many to mention, but very grateful for their loyalty and friendship over the years.

I even had the good fortune to play opposite my husband who was my first leading man in Belle of New York, Annie Get Your Gun and The Desert Song.
Our last show together was at the Royal Northern College of Music where the North Manchesters moved to after leaving the Palace Theatre. I played the title role in The Merry Widow and my husband was the musical Director.
This was my last performance with the North Manchesters, the year being 1982.

So for nearly 40 years I enjoyed my on-stage appearances as a member of Amateur Theatre and hope that I have given encouragement to many who have followed in my footsteps. I have kept up my membership with the North Manchesters for 60 years and have been honoured with Life Membership of the Society. Apart from all that, I was in the Light Opera Singing Group, which consisted of eight members who sang as Masonic evenings and Mayoral functions (Eddie being the Musical Director). I was also a member of the Simpson Memorial Choral Society for many years.

At present I am enjoying a good sing with the Alkrington Townswomen's Evening Guild Choir and every Sunday morning as a parishioner at Manchester Cathedral where I worship. I hope to continue singing for many years to come.

On the 14th May 2005, at the final performance of North Manchesters' production of Half A Sixpence I was presented with my 60 years NODA medal — a very proud occasion indeed and feel that it has covered 60 glorious years. Thank you for the opportunity to pursue my dream.