WWOS
For the Best In Musical Theatre
For the Best In Musical Theatre
WWOS
Over 80 years of quality musical theatre
"The local super-group flying the flag for
big-budget non-professional theatre"
About us
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WWOS was founded in 1935. During the first 25 years our repertoire was drawn solely from Gilbert & Sullivan and English musical comedy but in 1961 the musical comedy element was replaced by classical European operetta and in 1986 we added modern musicals, which have now become the mainstay of our repertoire. For the first 43 years we performed in various local halls but in 1979 we moved into Bromley's newly opened civic theatre where we now stage a production each Spring and Autumn. In 2002 we were invited to perform at the Minack Theatre on the cliffs at Porthcurno, Cornwall, so, in Jubilee Bank Holiday week we took a company of over 90 down to Cornwall to perform Pickwick at this most magical of open-air theatres.
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We have an acting membership of approximately 75 and we meet for rehearsals at 8.00pm at the Wickham Theatre Centre, Corkscrew Hill, West Wickham, on Wednesdays. This is the home of Theatre 62, a local award winning drama group, with whom we have a strong artistic working relationship. Once the show has been cast, usually within 1 month of the start of rehearsals, then the principals rehearse at the same venue on a Monday evening.
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For more information or if you are interested in becoming a member please fill in the form below and our secretary will get back to you.
WWOS is a musical theatre production company performing at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley.
WWOS Productions
2024
In Memorium
Pauline Gregoire
Polly
Polly joined WWOS with her then husband Bernard John in the mid-1960s and, with her fine soprano voice and equal acting ability, immediately proved to be a welcome addition to the society’s ranks. She played leading roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan and operettas by other composers that were the staple diet of WWOS at that time. These included most memorably Elsie Maynard in The Yeomen of the Guard and Anna Glavari in The Merry Widow.
Performances were at the Azelia Hall until 1978 but once we graduated to the Churchill Theatre, Polly excelled in a succession of character parts including Aunt Eller in Oklahoma! (3 times!), Nettie Fowler in Carousel, a regal Queen Elizabeth in Merrie England, the haughty trouser part of Prince Orlovsky in Die Fledermaus and the matriarch Golde in Fiddler on the Roof.
Her greatest triumph and her own favourite role was her never-to-be forgotten portrayal of the blood-thirsty and hilarious Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd.
Polly was a much-loved member of the WWOS family for many years and poignantly her final appearance with the Society was when she repeated her role as the dignified but doomed Mrs Ida Straus in Titanic the Musical.
From a personal viewpoint, I feel privileged and delighted to have shared Polly’s years with WWOS. The first time we played opposite each other was in 1968 when she played Elsie to my Jack Point in The Yeomen of the Guard and the final time was in 2012 when we sang our last duet before we both perished as Mr and Mrs Isidor Straus in Titanic the Musical.
Polly will be much missed by all who knew and loved her.
Terry Gauntlett
Interested in joining WWOS?
Fill out the form below to book an audition date.
