Keswick Amateur Operatic Society

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Keswick Amateur Operatic Society, or KAOS for short, is an amateur society performing musicals and operetta in Keswick, Cumbria, which is in the heart of the English Lake District, in the United Kingdom

1 Chronology
2 Structure
3 Shows
4 Venues
5 Rehearsals
6 External links

[edit] Chronology

Formed in Autumn 1971 by 21 founding members following a meeting called at Lairthwaite School, Keswick, the first production was a concert version of Gilbert and Sullivan's “HMS Pinafore” performed in the Queens Hall of what is now become Keswick School. This was followed by a joint production with The Cumbrian Operatic Workshop, Cockermouth of “Song of Bethlehem”, an original work by Colin Fleming and Martin Bott, who wrote three further works for performance by the Society.

In 1977 the Society moved to the Century Theatre, also known as "The Blue Box", the once-mobile Theatre sited on the Lakeside car park, Keswick where it remained until the removal of the building to Snibston in 1998. Through this association, members of the Society became the primary advocates of the idea of a permanent theatre for the town and the proceeds from all productions and many fundraising activities were given for this purpose.

In 2000, following two years at The Rawnsley Centre, the Society moved to the new Theatre by the Lake where it has since remained, attracting members from all of north Cumbria, and performing a broadened repertoire of musicals, operettas and concerts.

[edit] Structure

KAOS is made up of acting members, non-acting members, patrons, and is run by a management committee. The committee is made up of any members of the society who are voted in. The society is a member of NODA, the National Operatic and Dramatic Association.

A Production Committee is appointed by the Management Committee to produce each of the society's individual shows and concerts.

[edit] Shows

Keswick Amateur Operatic Society stages a primary production in May of each year. A secondary concert production is staged in November of each year. A proportion of the proceeds of the secondary production are given to local charities.

The Society show catalogue is as follows:-
1971 HMS Pinafore (concert)
1972 Song of Bethlehem*
1974 Samson*
1976 Trial by Jury & Songtime in Vienna
1977 The Magic Rocking Chair*
1980 Queen of Thieves*
1981 The Yeoman of the Guard
1982 Waltzes from Vienna
1983 Troy*
1984 The Gypsy Baron
1985 Passion Flower & The Magic Rocking Chair*
1986 The Pirates of Penzance
1987 Magyar Melody
1988 HMS Pinafore
1989 The Arcadians
1990 Valley of Song
1991 Ruddigore
1992 The White Horse Inn
1993 The Mikado
1994 The Merry Widow
1995 Patience
1996 Calamity Jane
1997 The Gondoliers
1998 Viva Mexico
1999 Kiss Me Kate & Curtain Up! I
2000 South Pacific
2001 Annie Get Your Gun
2002 The Pirates of Penzance
2003 Me and My Girl
2004 Iolanthe & Curtain Up! II
2005 Guys and Dolls
2006 The Mikado
2007 Fiddler on the Roof

Original works by D. C. Fleming and M. Bott

[edit] Venues

Primary productions take place at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick. Performances have also taken place at many community venues throughout Cumbria, and at Greystoke Castle, Greystoke, Cumbria.