BRIGHOUSE LIGHT OPERA SOCIETY (BLOS)

BLOS was formed in December 1923 when a small group was formed from the St James church congregation to perform what was probably intended as a series of one off concerts.

This first effort proved to be so successful that many small concerts were repeated over the next few months. One of the leading lights with the group was the Rev W.H. Womersley who along with his wife coached the small but willing group to initially perform at fetes and teas. From these small beginnings came their first full production ‘Floradora’ which opened in September 1924 at the Sugden Memorial Hall. The two people responsible for getting the best out of this group of amateurs and producing what was described as a first class musical comedy were Mt H.T. Evans and musical director Christopher Peacock. This successful performance saw the birth of what became known as the St James Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society..

Through the generosity of Mr Richard Woodhouse and the Sugden family the memorial hall was the scene for their 1925 performance of ‘The Earl and the Girl’, in 1926 ‘A Runaway Girl’ , in 1927 ‘San Toy’, and in 1928 ‘ A Country Girl’..

The first signs of dissent came after 11 years at the annual general meeting in 1935 when the society found itself without a secretary and treasurer. It was pointed out by the Parish Church Vicar, the Rev Edward Moore Haines, that over recent years the annual light opera performance had become so popular that people who had no connection with the church were being recruited both into the cast and production staff..

It was suggested that these ‘comers-in’ were now practically running the organisation and the church authorities considered this as unacceptable..

The crunch finally came when the Rev Haines announced that the officials of the amateurs should all be active church members. If any member left the church then they would also be expected to leave the society. The result was that in the following February the society disbanded..

From the ashes of the St. James group rose Brighouse Light Opera Society when ex-members rallied and formed the new group..

Some of the regular leading lights in those early days included Stewart Gilpin, Harry Barrett, Leslie Cockcroft, Eva Reynolds, Bessie Barett, Harry Earnshaw, Nellie Greenwood and walter Briggs just to name a few..

In 2005 Brighouse Theatre Productions was established by the merger of Brighouse Light Opera Society and Brighouse Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society.