Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Stourbridge Town Hall marks new era for long-running Tab Operatic Society

The show, based on the hit 1988 comedy film, is a first for the historic company which has moved to Stourbridge after 33 years at Brierley Hill Civic Hall.

A spokesman for the society said: "Change is not easy, but Stourbridge Town Hall is a more intimate venue and much-loved by local theatre enthusiasts."

The society, which first started out in Old Hill, began with the young Winifred Carter who started producing Sunday school musical plays in the school buildings of the Tabernacle Primitive Methodist Church in what was then High Street (now Highgate Street).

The plays created great interest and incorporated the Youth Fellowship which was strong at the Tabernacle at the time.

In 1946 Winifred opted to produce something more ambitious.

Zurika (cast pictured below) was staged the following year with Margaret Cooper and Eric Beasley taking lead roles. Musical accompaniment was just a piano but the society became an affiliated member of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA).

The following year's show was San Marino and for this second outing more instruments were introduced and a small orchestra was formed.

Frank Richards joined the company as assistant producer for the show and played the comedy lead opposite Doreen Turbin - daughter of Winifred Carter.

Male church members worked tirelessly before the performances transforming the Victoria Sunday School into a make-shift theatre where a stage made of planks had to be erected on scaffolding and runners had to be placed in the roof to support the curtains - and the dressing rooms were made by dividing the back school rooms with curtains.

In 1948 Frank Richards became producer and musical director and went on to perform on stage and produce 36 shows. He carried on as musical director for another six years and through his theatrical expertise and passion made The Old Hill Tabernacle Operatic Society a much-loved society.

He served as president for the tab for 25 years and received the 60 years diamond merit award from NODA.

Alan Horton joined the Youth Fellowship after finishing his National Service and was given the leading role in My Lady Jennifer in 1949.

Veronique was staged in 1955 (cast pictured above) - and in 1957, with the production of The Arcadians, Alan played jockey Peter Doody and proved a master of comedy as well as a romantic leading man.

A great favourite with audiences, he continued performing for many years, often with wife Judith, and he later became producer for numerous ‘tab’ productions.

By 1962 the society had accumulated enough money to enlarge the stage and so after a production of Our Miss Gibbs work on the new stage began.

The work was not completed in time for the 1963 show Mr Cinders, however, which was performed at the Netherton Arts Centre.

But the ‘tab’ returned home the following year with The Quacker Girl.

Valley of Song 1966 (pictured above) and Oklahoma 1975 (below)

With the decline of congregations within the methodist church circuit it was later decided to amalgamate and demolish Tabernacle, Zion’s Hill and Reddall Hill Churches and build a new church in Lawrence Lane.

With this, the Old Hill Tabernacle Operatic Society had to find a new home and a new name, as it was no longer part of the methodist church.

Reluctantly a move to Brierley Hill Civic Hall was agreed and as the society had always been affectionately call the ‘tab’ it was decided that would be the new name.

In March 1984 Ivor Novello’s Dancing Years was the first production staged at Brierley Hill. Alan Horton not only produced the show but also took the lead role of Rudi Kleber opposite wife Judith, who played opera singer Maria Zeigler. Meanwhile Geoff Totney was musical director, Audree Henwood - choreographer, and Brian Cox - the society's pianist.

The move was a new era for ‘tab’ and more American shows followed - Carousel, South Pacific, Show Boat and Oklahoma - the latter being sold out two weeks before the opening night.

Geoff Totney, who recently died aged 85, and Brian Cox alternated as musical director and society pianist for many years and a spokesman said: "Their contribution to the success of ‘tab’ has been immense."

In 1987 Audree Henwood took over the production of South Pacific when Alan Horton fell ill.

Audree, whose school of dance and drama was well established in Cradley Heath, had been choreographer for many years and was the obvious choice for producer.

Many memorable shows followed including 42nd Street (cast pictured above), the sell-out King and I starring Judith Horton as Anna Leonowens and Trevor Guest as the King, and the ballet Small House of Uncle Thomas. In 2008, following the production of Carousel, Audree was awarded the Birmingham & District Theatre Guild Colman Kelly Memorial Trophy for Best Direction of a Musical and the society the John Daniels Trophy for Best Musical.

Audree continued as producer and choreographer for another seven shows until 2015 when a new production team was appointed for ‘tab’s’ production of Grease.

Rachel and Leon Davies, both former pupils of the Audree School of Dance and Drama and both long associated with the 'tab', became creative directors - with celebrated musician Richard Ganner at the helm for musical direction.

Leon first appeared as one of the snow children at the age of just seven in the 'tab's' 1986 production of Carousel - while Rachel attended many rehearsals as a child with parents Judith and Alan Horton.

The couple have over the years performed in many productions with the 'tab' and other societies - taking on many leading roles.

Following their successful production of Grease, the society's last at Brierley Hill, 'tab' members hope this year’s production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - led by the Davies’ and Richard Ganner - proves an delight for theatregoers.

The show, the society's 70th anniversary outing, is running at Stourbridge Town Hall until Saturday April 1.

Based on the movie starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, the show is set on the French Riviera and centres on rival con-men Lawrence Jameson and larger-than-life Freddy Benson as they bet on who can be the first to swindle a young heiress out of a fortune.

Evening performances start at 7.30pm and the Saturday matinee on April 1 starts at 2pm.

For ticket availability contact the ticket secretary on 07722 417962 or go to taboperatic.com