Three cheers for The Three Towns

With what is undoubtedly an extremely professional approach to its performances, the society's annual operatic presentation shouldn't be missed.

This is an amateur society who do not have the facilities and backing available to professionals, but the care and attention devoted to even the most minor detail of a performance means the resulting quality leaves you in little doubt that their aims are extremely high.

The Three Towns Operatic Society was formed 31 years ago, by Mr Neville Parry who wrote to the 'Journal' inviting any music lover who was interested in forming an opera group to contact him.

There was a very encouraging response and it was decided to stage a production of "The Gondoliers" in May of 1969. Some members of that original production are still in the company today.

Initially productions took place at the old Leigh Boys' Grammar School before the company moved to their present venue at Lowton Civic Hall in 1978.

Society president is John Prior who spent many years at the Casino Ballroom in Leigh with his famous orchestra. Now retired, John is also president of the Leigh Music Society. The major committee members are: David Kay - chairman, Derek Morris - vice chairman, and Douglas Edwards - treasurer. The society currently boasts around 50 members from as far afield as Sharples, Culcheth, Wigan and Bolton.

Mrs Mildred Marsh, society secretary, explained that there is one annual show, usually in May and normally performed for five nights.

"Our major productions are budgeted at around £10,000, and we usually lose money on the show. The ticket money doesn't cover it. We have to pay for the use of Lowton Civic Hall, and music is provided by a hired professional orchestra which can cost in the region of £4,200 for five nights. On top of this the costume bill is around £2000.

"To break even we need to sell 1500 seats. Our normal ticket sales are around 1200. To overcome the shortfall we have a concert later in the year. This and other concerts are held during the autumn and the winter.

"The main concert, which we use to raise money for the society, is normally performed in Lowton Civic Hall, and is so well supported that it's now becoming difficult to accommodate all those who want to attend. We play to groups sat around at tables. People really enjoy the informality.

"Although we do sing modern material at our concerts we don't go in for modern musicals because they're not written for four part harmony singing - tenor, bass, soprano and alto - and that's what we're trying to keep alive.

"Our next concert is on November 17 and 18. On December 1 we are giving a concert for St Peter's, Hindley. On December 3 we are performing in Culcheth Methodist Church.

"The concerts are mainly for charity. All the proceeds from the Culcheth concert will go to cancer research.

"Two years ago we started to do Songs of Praise at St Catherine's in Lowton and the collection was donated to Derien house children's hospice.

"This year it's on November 12 in Leigh Parish Church at 3pm, and the proceeds will go to the artificial kidney unit at Withington hospital.

"Our musical accompaniment at concerts is usually provided by our pianist Maureen Roberts and assistant accompanist Gavin Richardson.

"We rehearse at the St Catherine's Church Hall in Lowton. Scenery is built by the society itself and is designed by Frank Bowdler, an ex-art teacher from Fred Longworth school.

"The backstage crew of five men do an extremely hard job under difficult circumstances. Our youngest singer, Elizabeth Jackett, aged 16, has just joined us. We have 22 male singers and 34 female singers. Our oldest singer is over 70!

"The society as a whole has grown, but it's the age group from 16 -30 that we desperately need.

"Audiences have gone older over the years but younger ones are coming back.

"We are always looking for new ideas to generate interest, and have approached schools but often we don't get a reply. We've thought about trying to do workshops, but if children have any talent nowadays there are so many openings for them that, at 18, you have already lost them. And there is peer pressure; for a 16 or 17-year-old opera is not the thing to be seen doing!

"It's organisations like the BEN who help when features like this appear. The Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley libraries are very good at helping and will happily put on displays for us before a show or a concert.

"We have terrific backing during shows from friends who come along to help with the refreshments, do front of house and that sort of thing. They are not members but they are so supportive, and every cog in the wheel is very important.

"We are determined that the society will not come to a standstill - it will grow through the years. Nobody should think 'that's not for me'. If somebody comes to us and wants to join we usually invite them along on a Tuesday night to a couple of rehearsals, then somebody will listen to them and it will all follow on from there.

"We do have singers that have gone on to higher things - Geoffrey Shovelton for example is a one time member of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. He still follows the society's fortunes and writes to encourage us from time to time. David Kay sang at the G & S festival at Buxton Opera House last week.

"We are desperately seeking sponsorship. We are not looking for huge sums - perhaps some firm could sponsor just one night of the orchestra, or a print run of programs and, of course, the sponsor would be given very generous space.

"We hire almost all our lighting, sound and costumes. So if there is anybody out there who would like to assist, we would be delighted to hear from them.

"Next year our show is 'The Yeoman of the Guard' on May 15-19, at Lowton Civic Centre.

"Finally, if anyone would like to join the society - and we really do need you - please call the secretary, Mrs Mildred Marsh on 01942 897053."