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The society was established in 1892 and except for periods during the Boer War, the First and Second World Wars, and the COVID pandemic, has performed every year since. Although no shows were produced during the wars, the society was active performing concerts for the Red Cross.
For many years our home was The Queens Theatre, Burslem, but in 1998 , just before we opened with ”Crazy For You”, the ceiling collapsed and the theatre was closed. Within a week we moved everything into “The Royal “, a lovely old traditional theatre in Hanley. Since, we have played in all the local theatres in what is now called the Cultural Centre of the Potteries. Members of the society were invited to meet the Queen when, after its refurbishment, she opened “The Regent”, the main venue there.
This company likes a challenge and we faced one when playing a major musical, “Man of La Mancha” in the round, at the New Victoria Theatre - first for the theatre and a first for us. This was very well received and we returned again with’ Cabaret’, ‘Oklahoma’ and ‘Damn Yankees’.
Our History
Over the years we have been given many NODA awards for our productions and were the winners of the International Festival of Musicals at the Buxton Opera House in 1997 with ‘’Me and My Girl”. Over the years we have received many NODA awards the most recent was for the West Midlands Best Show “Sister Act" in 2015. We have on many occasions presented premier amateur performances of newly released shows, always to great acclaim and always of the highest standard. The society is always on the lookout for new, modern, different and exciting shows to perform.
Every year, several of our young members move on to careers in theatre. From the past, the most well known are Robbie Williams, Jonathan Wilkes, Anthea and Wendy Turner, Simon Bishop, Tim Churchill, John Cumberlidge and Gordon Alcock. More recently, we have brother and sister Sam and Charlotte O’Rourke both playing in the West End
Meet the Committee
Our Committee govern the society to ensure we can continue to produce Theatre at its best now and in the future. The executive directors of the society also work as trustees of the society. The committee is voted for annually at the society's AGM. You'll find the majority of the committee at every NSOS rehearsal or you can contact them through the society email address at nsosltd@gmail.org. Your 2024 committee are below.
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President - Mike Jones
Chairman/Business Manager/Property Director - Peter Morris
Vice Chair/ Company Secretary - Sharon Lawton
Finance Director/ Ticket Secretary - Gina Brian
Marketing Director - Richard Shepherd
Wardrobe Director - Carol Ernest
Social Secretary - Val Waddell
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In addition to the Executive Directors, four memebers of the society ate elected as members representatives, each for a two-year term. in 2024, these are:
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Lisa Stewart
Matt Dale
Julia O'Rourke
Christian Stewart