Our history

This short history of the Dunfermline Gilbert & Sullivan Society was written in 2006:

Formed at a public meeting organised by a handful of enthusiasts and held in Dunfermline’s historic Abbot House on Wednesday, 13 May 1970, the Society’s purpose as set forth in its constitution that evening was “to foster and maintain a knowledge and appreciation of the works of W S Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan by the regular, public performance of their works”. This was a bold but simple declaration and it is one which the Society has striven to achieve over the 35 years of its existence.

Co-incidentally, the date of the meeting, 13 May, marked an anniversary of Sir Arthur Sullivan’s birth – a happy omen indeed!

Through the accident of having to fit into an already established programme of bookings in our local theatre, the Carnegie Hall, our first performance, The Mikado, was held in February 1971 when a convenient gap existed. This pattern has been repeated each year since that date and each February sees the production of one of the operettas. To help hold the Society members together (and to raise much needed funds) the practice of holding a concert in early autumn developed.  In recent years the timing has moved to late June although the format remains the same.

In recent years too, we have incorporated productions of Trial by Jury, Cox and Box and The Zoo in our Summer Concerts.

To raise funds for charity we have held two successful “In-a-day” events and have even performed Trial by Jury in the local Sheriff Courthouse.

Like all Societies we have our ups and downs but in general we have remained solvent, cheerful and above all welcoming to new and old members alike.