1939 during a packed meeting in the Old Court Room St Andrews a discussion arose regarding the possibility of St Andrews starting its very own Operatic Society. The proposal for such an organisation came from Mr Alex Maxwell who "Was surprised that a city like St Andrews was not represented in this branch of theatre art". It was noted that another speaker at the meeting commented that "If Cupar could do it so could St Andrews".
So on Tuesday 21st March 1939 in a meeting chaired by Dr Mair, St Andrews Amateur Opera Company (the title was soon to be changed to Society) was formally inaugurated. Dr Mair said during the meeting "At a time like this when there is so much anxiety and unrest in the world, it is absolutely essential that we should keep our peckers up and there is no better way of doing it than making music". At the meeting doubts were raised about financing music shows but these doubts were dismissed by T.T. Forsyth saying "It is nonsense to say that it can not be done". Later in the same year rehersals began for a performance of "A Country Girl" by James T. Tanner which was due to be staged in 1940.
The performance in 1940 never took place due to the war and it wasn't until 1947 that St Andrews Amateur Operatic Society was to stage its First Show "The Pirates of Penzance". The choice of show had been decided after Sheriff More who was now the President of the Society had been urged by the County Music Organizer and a member of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir to select a Gilbert and Sullivan opera. The performance was to begin at 7.30 pm as this would allow the members of the orchestra to catch the last ferry back home to Dundee. The Blizzards of 1947 made it difficult for anyone to attend the show, and highly praised through the "St Andrews Citizen" were the members of the orchestra who, had to read their music by candlelight during a power cut.
The Society continued to perform Gilbert and Sullivan shows until 1964 when Oklahoma was cast and shown. Since then the Society has continued to perform varied shows from Viennese Operetta to Modern Musicals. In 1989 St Andrews AOS celebrated its 50th anniversary, and in the same year the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera "The Gondoliers" was celebrating its centenary. The society now under the presidency of Dr Quinault decided that St Andrews AOS would perform "The Gondoliers" as its Golden Jubilee show. In the summer of 1989 St Andrews AOS performed a specially written production "When the Lights Come on Again" by Carole Tricker. The show looked back to the formation years of the society between 1939 and 1947 telling the memories of local residents and events of St Andrews.
St Andrews AOS continued to perform its shows each year in the Town Hall, but in 2002 a decision was made to move to the Byre Theater in St Andrews. This decision allowed an increase to the number of people who are now able to enjoy the show. In 2009 the Society will be celebrating 70 years since its inauguration on the 21st March 1939, and we hope that you will be able to join us.
