Geoff Hubbard on his 48 glorious years of WAOS

Hi my name is Geoff Hubbard, although I have been involved in Amateurs since 1968, I have been a member of Workington Amateur Operatic Society since 1972, that’s 48 glorious years.

Amateurs is a great hobby to be in because you can be as involved with it as much or as little as you like.

Over my time I have been as involved as much as I possibly could, including performing in some 41 shows, plus one as call boy and co-directing 4 Junior productions. I have also performed in Society concerts, writing and directing one, and designed scenery for two shows.

I have also been a member of Management and Publicity committees.
Since 2006 I have been working with the Society Archivist on maintaining and updating Society history.

One of the best thinks about being in the Society is all the friends and acquaintances that you make. Over the years there have been a lot, the older ones, mostly not with us anymore, whose performances gave me the techniques to make better my performances, and those like my late friend Tony Murray, who would mentor me, keeping me right, and correct me if I got it wrong.

Just over 30 years ago, after a production of Oliver, the Management Committee the Management Committee decided to create a Junior Section, to keep those Oliver children in our Society and possibly have them develop their love of theatre and become future adult members.  I volunteered, and with what became our Junior Committee, had fortnightly meetings teaching them theatre skills that we had gained through our membership. I co-directed four of these along with Ed McGee, and 30 years later I am pleased to say that the plan has more than paid off, as the Juniors are now run by former Junior members. I think that is one of the things that I am most proud.
 
 
To think of it, at one time I was Ticket Secretary, member of Management and Publicity, playing a part and holding down a full time job!

Those were the days.

To pick out a favourite show is difficult. I think a good contender would Hello Dolly, I played Barnaby Tucker and other members of the cast included Marjorie Musgrave, Norman Brayton, Tom Walker, Pat Nicholson and Phyllis McGee. It was the Societys Platinum Anniversary production, and it just had everything. It is a real feel good show with great words and music and fun to be in. I would recommend it to any Society, but you have to have a great Dolly, we did.
​Yeah, a lot of happy memories.