We have now started rehearsals on the floor for The Pirates of Penzance (Cast - please note floor rehearsals start at 7.30). The principal parts were cast in May, and are:
| Mabel - Heather Seekins | Major-General Stanley- Robert Thurman | |
| Ruth - Andrea Widdison | Pirate King - John Ramsdin | |
| Edith - Christine Roberts | Frederic - Jonathan Wilby | |
| Kate - Helen Matthews | Samuel - Michael Templeton | |
| Isabel - Stephanie Bolton | Sergeant of Police - Colin Fine |
We have three debutants with the Sociery. Heather Seekins auditioned for us wishing to sing Gilbert and Sullivan in addition to the operatic experience she has accumulated with West Riding Opera in Leeds. Andrea Widdison came to live in Halifax from Penzance, where she has previously sung the part of Ruth (an in-house dialogue adviser there!), while Jonathan Wilby may be known to Huddersfield audiences, where he made his G & S debug at the age of six as one of J W Wels's infant sprites. He has since sung Leonard Meryll with Huddersfield and Frederic in Brighouse, as well as taking several leading roles with Leeds Youth Opera and fitting in professional work at the same time.
We welcome back three firends from previous shows. Robert Thurman was a memorable Pooh-Bah and Grand Duke for us, and few will forget John Ramsdin's Wilfred Shadbolt and Captain Corcoran. Michael Templeton was our Strephon three years ago, and has since (with John) taken part in a number of West Riding Opera performances.
We look forward to working with our old and new friends, and hope that they will enjoy their time with us.
It's now time to start selling the show, and two flyers are enclosed with this Newsletter. Please us one to book your tickets and pass the other on to someone you think would like to come. More copies are available from Kathryn, so please ring up if you want further supplies. A4 posters (the size of this page) are also available if you have access to a notice board in a shop or hall where it would be visible to a larger public.