Ashton-Under-Lyne Operatic Society Ashton-Under-Lyne Operatics Society Founded in 1899. We currently produce a Musical in the spring. It all started for Ashton-under-Lyne Operatic Society over a 100 years ago when Lizzie Burgess, Herbert Livesey and Tom Ogden got together and formed a group to present “Liley of Kilarney” at Ashton Town Hall towards the end of 1899. Lizzie went on to be the leading soprano for the Carl Rosa Opera Company but Herbert and Tom continued and saw the Society grow in stature. In 1904 when it joined forces with the Ashton Dramatic Society, a move was made to the Theatre Royal on Oldham Road. We still have a poster from that year for the presentation of “Les Cloche de Cornville” and “The Red Lamp” which is proudly displayed at our exhibitions. In 1912 another change of venue was made by crossing Oldham Road to the Empire Hippodrome. Apart from a return to the Theatre Royal in the 1920s it has remained, with various name changes, our home ever since until 2008 when the theatre closed for refurbishment. Alas we are still waiting for it to reopen. Until then we have played at the George Lawton Hall, Mossley and Oldham Coliseum, dependant on show and venue availability. In the late 1920s Charles Booth joined the Society and later proved to be its best asset through his vision and drive. Charles joined the Committee as Publicity Manager in 1930, and through various positions, eventually became Chairman in 1953. During his time as Chairman the Society certainly went from strength to strength with productions such as the Ivor Novello shows, and at the time, the very adventurous “West Side Story” in 1964. Charles remained a very active Chairman until 1980 when he retired to become Society President. Since the Society endowed a cot at Ashton Infirmary in 1932 we have continued with contributions to charity, when we can. Contact: lscottcot@icloud.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshtonOperatic/about?locale=en_GB
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