A book looking back on the life and times of Dukinfield Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society has now been released for the society's 75th anniversary.
With nearly 260 pages, ‘Act One Beginners, Please’ is full of photographs, memorabilia, cast lists and decade-by-decade accounts of every production.
David Owen and Paul Whitworth are co-authors and long-standing members of the society and it has taken them almost a year to complete the epic.
On the inspiration for the book, David said: “I was laying on a beach back in 2016, thinking about how I could celebrate the 75-year milestone.
“I’ve written a book before about local theatre and cinema in Tameside, so this wasn’t completely new.
“I also lost my dad in 2013, who was a principal actor in the Dukinfield Amateur Operative and Dramatic Society.
“He had 50 years’ involvement in the society, and I’d like to think if he were here, we’d have written the book together.”
‘Act One Beginners, Please’ is priced at £18.50, including posting and packaging.
A total of 300 copies are being printed, with some of these stocked by the Tameside Local Studies Library.
Those who don’t want to wait until lockdown ends before grabbing a copy, can send their address and a payable cheque to Shelia Marshall, 70 Montague Road, Ashton, OL6 6PW.
The society has a long and proud history providing top quality entertainment for the people of Dukinfield and the surrounding areas.
With either a golden oldie or a brand new release musical and plays, Dukinfield AODS could be counted on to provide a fantastic hobby for many local people.
Formed in 1946, the society is actually a re-formation of the original Dukinfield Operatic Society from 1907 which performed many famous and popular musical comedies at various venues within the town.
It disbanded in 1927 and remained defunct until a public meeting was held in November 1945 at the town hall for anyone interested in reviving Dukinfield’s operatic society.
Many members of the original society, the Crescent Road Musical Society and the Musical Comedy Players, all came together and the present Dukinfield Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society was born, presenting its first production ‘Betty’ at the Jubilee Hall, Dukinfield, in October 1946.
By 1948, the society had grown to such an extent, that the committee decided a bigger venue was required, and so the society moved a mile down the road to Ashton.
It played at both the Theatre Royal and the New Empire which later became the ABC, Tameside Theatre, Tameside Hippodrome and also the society’s home from 1951-2007.
Since the closure of Tameside Hippodrome in 2008, Dukinfield AODS has performed its annual musical at the George Lawton Hall, Mossley, from 2009.
The dramatic side of the society was revived in 2017, recommencing annual plays with the comedy ‘Sailor Beware’ being presented from March 16 to 18, 2017, at Dukinfield Methodist Church Hall – the first time the society had played in its home town for 46 years!
To find out more about the book and the society, go to dukinfieldaods.co.uk.
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