It all began in November 1929 when Torquay Co-op Society sponsored the formation of an amateur Operatic society from among its members. With the aid of Ernest Goss, the Musical Director of the Torquay Municipal Orchestra, the Co-operative Operatic Society was formed. Rehearsals commenced in 1930 and in 1931 the musical Les Cloches De Comville was presented at The Pavillion Theatre, then the area's major theatrical venue. Following this sucess it was decided to carry on.

When the war started just 8 years later, many Operatic Societies ceased activities, but the Co-op Society carried on. It was during the production of Rio Rita that the first bombs fell on Torquay. All stages had coloured lights beside them to let the audiences know if a raid was on. When the red lights came on, the audience rushed out, leaving the cast to perform the finale to an empty theatre!!! When the Co-op decide to withdraw support, the members decided to carry on under the name of Torbay Operatic Society. There was already a Torquay Operatic Society in existence!!

During the war the Prudential Assurance Company evacuated its offices to Torquay and many of the staff joined the society. As so many of them were drama minded a drama section was added. When a shortage of men caused shows to be suspended in 1943, concert parties were performed for servicemen in the area, and the new drama section performed one act plays.

After the war, the Operatic Section continued operations at the Pavillion Theatre and the Dramatic section commenced at the Babbacombe Theatre. The Operatic Section presented all the old favourites to woo back the audiences, benefiting from the expertise of a well known local Director Jeffrey Snelson. When he decided to call it a day, professional Directors from away were employed. Action continued unabated into the 60's, each show presented with varying degrees of financial success. The Dramatic Section had become hugely popular at Babbacombe, with its annual season of 10 winter plays.

In 1961 the Princess Theatre had opened just a few hundred yards away from the old Pavillion. It was the finest Theatre on the south coast at that time, but the amateurs were forced to continue their shows at the Pavillion. By 1968 it was obvious that the facilities at the latter venue were becoming outdated very fast. Although the Pavillion had a lovely atmosphere, the auditorium was becoming very seedy, and the stage lacked a fly tower or extensive backstage facilities. In 1969 the Society finally suceeded in persuading the Council to let them transfer to the Princess Theatre. The first attempt to try and fill the 1500 seats available every night, and to cover the huge increase in costs as a result of the move, was the local Premiere of the new release My Fair Lady. Apart from a short break between 1979 and 1982 when operations were transfered to the Festival Theatre at Paignton, the Society has produced annually at the Princess ever since.

Obviously, there have been ups and downs in fortunes over the years, finances ebb and flow as with any business. At times the bank balance has been reduced to just a few pounds, but the Society has always been able to bounce back with enthusiasm and optimism. In 1983 with just £45 in the bank, an £11,000 production of The Dancing Years was staged which restored the finances at a stroke with excellent houses.

Choice of production has always been important, and there have been a number of major milestones in the history of TOADS. The society was the first in the area to produce the Novello shows, always popular, but very expensive to present. 1971 saw the National Amateur premiere of Mame, and there have been a number of South West Premierees such as the Valley of Song in 1965 and Wedding in Paris in 1967. 1982 saw the South Western Amateur Premiere of West Side Story which, with its young vibrant cast, was hailed as the finest amateur show in the bay for years. There have been Torbay Premieres such as My Fair Lady in 1969, Anything Goes in 1994, Chicago in 1996, Singing in the Rain and A Little Night Music in 1997, Crazy for You in 1998, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1999 - and, of course, Mack & Mabel.

The Dramatic section formed it's own Society in 1983, TOADS Theatre Company, and is now the proud owner of the Little Theatre in St. Marks Road. This is one of the finest amateur theatres in the country and they continue to present an annual season of plays at that venue.

While the profit has never been the prime motivation, indeed the Society is a Registered Charity and as such donates sums of money to needy causes, it is necessary to cover rising expenses. The first show in 1931 cost £290 to stage. This year's Mack & Mabel will cost £36,000 for 6 performances.

Many humourous and not so humourous tales can be told about Society life over the years. There is the tale of the drunk who walked through the stage door, onto the stage, across the back of the set, and back out again during a performance of Goodnight Vienna in 1972, with a bemused audience looking on. Also the one about the goat in White Horse Inn in 1970 which relieved itself every night in the wings. Unfortunately, the stage floorboards had cracks and the steaming liquid ended up dripping onto the heads of the chorus men in their dressing room! More recently of the side stage flood during Show Boat in 1985. The new scene dock had recently been built, but the builders had not made it sufficiently watertight. On the last night a thunderstorm during the show brought torrential rain. Water an inch deep threatened to swamp the stage. Stage hands brushed the wings continually, understage the dressing rooms were flooded and evacuated, but miraculously the show continued with only the swish of brushes and the knocking of buckets to indicate to the audience that something might have been wrong.

Life can be fun (!) in an Operatic Society. The friendliness and warmth of character of TOADS Operatic has been a feature over the years and new members are welcomed with open arms. Please join and help the Society to keep live theatre in Torbay at a time when support for the arts takes second place to other projects.

text with thanks to Iain Douglas (2000)