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Veronica Raven (Head of Music at the School and then
known by her maiden name Veronica Gates), the late John Lockwood
(Head of English and Head of Centre at Sparkhill Institute), Keitha
Lockwood (Domestic Science & Needlework) and other teachers at
the school, notably Roger Norfolk, Peter Anstey, and Steve
Yeomans, together with the 5th and 6th form students decided to
start an 'Operatic Society' in the public domain. So - under the
auspices of a night school (Adult Education System at that time), the
group advertised in local press for singers, actors etc and 
was born.
Moseley
Operatic Society
changes to
Music On Stage
After running jumble sales and
various fund raising events the Society opened in September 1972 and
rehersals began for the first Productions of "Pirates of
Penzance" which was staged at the school in June 1973
under the musical direction of Veronica, the stage direction
(Producer) of John Lockwood, Stage Manager Roger Norfolk.
The members built the sets Keitha made the costumes. A committee was
formed, Carol Foster was Treasurer, Edna White Ticket
Secretary along with the production team, afore mentioned and two
representative members. Steve Yeomans was Chairman, Paddy
Benger Vice Chairman.
The second production was
"Ruddigore" staged in June 1974. In
September 1974 when the new term started, the Society saw an influx
of new members among those were Kathy Lovell (Kathy Shough at
the time) and Margaret Draper and rehearsals began for "The
Mikado" staged in 1975. Kathy and Margaret joined the
committee a couple of years later, Kathy as secretary, Margaret as
Representative Member. The committee stayed much the same for many
years with the same people occasionally changing roles.
The Mikado was followed by
"Patience" - 1976, "The Yeomen of the Guard"
- 1977
Diane Shirley, Peter
Best and others joined for "Gondoliers" at
Solihull Library Theatre in 1978 and Peter soon went on to forge
links between
and the Highfield Players of St Peter's Church in Hall Green leading
to several joint memberships to swell the numbers in both groups.
The night school terms were
the same as the school terms and more and more restrictions were put
on the company in regards to rehearsal times and venues. School
holidays meant less rehearsal times. This needed to be addressed at
the end of the 70's.
The result of this was with
becoming an independent of the Night School and
moved rehearsals to Oxford Road Baptist Church, Moseley in 1980.
Rehearsals at Acocks Green Methodist Church began in 1989. A venue
which is still used at times today, although the Hall Green
Methodist Church is used more often now . In 1996 we dropped the
word ‘Operatic’ from our title, kept our well-known initials
M-O-S and our own Phil Lovell came up with the new title - Music On
Stage.
| Moseley
Operatic Society |
Music
on Stage 90's |
Music
on Stage - Now |
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From
that point on the group performed up to two shows annually from the
90's and into the twenty first century. When a need was realised
that the diversity of talent meant that for the group to cater for
all it needed to diversify. Hence the creation of 
by Vivienne Wilkes and later the introduction of Rat Productions by
Stephen Wilkes and Andrew Rowley.
| The
Creation of
Theatre Group |
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is a group that has attracted much interest by fans
and the media because of its focus on the works of Tolkien. It has
been an integral part of each and every Middle-earth Weekend
& Tolkien
Festival at Sarehole Mill and has performed related material also,
such as shows which influenced the works or Tolkien. Non one has
been more influential in this work that director, actress and script
writer Vivienne Wilkes.
 
 was set up in 2004 following the huge success of
the
show 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin' performed two years earlier (hence the rat
related name).
was set-up by members of
Theatre as a vehicle for independent
drama. From its first production at the New Billeseley Pub with a
performance of "The Importance of Being Ernest" by
OscarWilde which was followed by the outrageous 'They came from
Mars and landed outside the Farndale Avenue Church hall in time for
the Townswomen's Guilds Coffee Morning' by David McGillivray and
Walter Zerlin Jr, the group has included a wide remit for potential
performances. Their production of "The Importance
of Being Ernest" by Oscar Wilde, was a tremendous hit when it
was performed again at Winterbourne Gardens in Edgbaston.
Rat have
previously entered the Birmingham Theatre Guild's Bfame Festival
with a presentation of the one-act play 'A Thistle in Donkey
Field' by Richard Tydeman and following that they put on
'Ali
Baba and the Forty Thieves' at the Dovehouse Theatre in Solihull
using the larger cast of .
Members of
are often seen in
and vice-versa and both groups
are under the umbrella of
Theatre.
Lastly
that leaves one more section of the
Theatre Group; the  . The
Mossies as they are more
affectionately known are the
youth group and currently have all
members under 18 years of age.
 
The
are a very active group and have been meeting weekly at workshops in
Hall Green, Birmingham since their launch in 1992. Young members of
have their own showcase productions and have, over the years,
joined in several musicals and plays as well as entering the Birmingham
Theatre Guild's Bfame festival. One of the members won the 'Best Female
Actor' Award in 2007.
This
brings us right up to date! We
hope that the group may continue to flourish, encouraging young
people especially, but also those who have an interest in Amateur
Theatre with talents in all areas, not only music, drama and dance
but off stage as well.
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