Rose Hill Musical Society
Rose Hill Musical Society
Derby's longest established Gilbert and Sullivan company was formed in 1926 by two talented young musicians - Douglas Milner and Leslie Lancashire - out of the Senior Department and staff of Rose Hill Methodist Sunday School. It originally presented concerts of cantatas and other smaller items.
In 1933 Alan Stevens suggested that the group present Trial by Jury. A yearly
Gilbert and Sullivan opera has been the aim of the society ever since.
The outbreak of the Second World War meant the temporary cessation of stage productions, but numerous concerts were still given in hospitals, military camps, the YMCA, churches and even gun-sites
The company returned to full productions, with The Sorcerer, at Derby Railway Institute in 1946, a venue which would remain the company's home for 25 years.
In April, 1971, our production of Iolanthe was the first show to take place in Derby's newly refurbished Guildhall and 2018's presentation of Princess Ida marked our 47th consecutive year of performances at the theatre.
