A COMMUNITY theatre group is celebrating 100 years since their first performance at Weymouth Pavilion.

To mark the milestone, Wessex Musical Theatre will stage their first Pavilion production since 2019 – which will take the audience down memory lane by going through the group's 100-year history.

In all those years of performing the group - formerly known as Weymouth Operatic Society - has, amazingly, continued staging shows throughout everything, with only a short break for the Second World War and Covid.

A lot has changed in those years - Stella Brading, President of Wessex Musical Theatre, who has performed with the society for more than 40 years, describes how the days of choruses standing in semi-circles behind lead characters are long gone.

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She said: “Every member of the cast is given a role to play - movement, different characters, a variety of costumes and freedom of expanding their role on stage.

“We have adapted to enable us to put on the more modern musicals, not just operatic or classic shows.

“Musical theatre has moved on dramatically since the early days, and we as a company, have moved along with these times."

She added: “Every show is an achievement and reflects the dedication, hard work and loyalty from our members and support from our audiences. How many amateur companies have fallen foul of modern times, where television, cinemas and online media, means that people don't need to leave their house to enjoy watching shows?

“Live theatre in all shapes and forms, have suffered greatly over the last 25-30 years and especially with the pandemic, many amateur societies and theatres have shut down, which is disheartening for the theatre world.”

Despite other groups in the industry being affected, Wessex Musical Theatre show no signs of stopping.

Ms Brading added: “We would like to think that we will keep going for another 100 years, but we need the support from potential audiences to enable us to do that.

“Coming out to watch one of our shows that are staged as professionally as possible - but without the costs of travelling to London, is one of the most magical escapes for audiences and performers alike.”

'A Night at the Musicals – 100 Years that WOS WMT' is on from June 1-4 during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. More information can be found on the group's Facebook page ‘Wessex Musical Theatre’.

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