If you would like to audition for one of the principal parts in The Pirates of Penzance, please follow our usual practice by letting the Vice Chair (Mike Pendlowski) know. He is happy for you to contact him by email, phone or text (moc.sulp.ikswoldnepnull@ekim, or 07525 920728).

It is envisaged that those wishing to audition for a particular role/roles will record a video of the audition pieces for consideration by the audition panel. We shall probably arrange a Zoom call involving Rae Lamond, our director, before that so that the proposed procedure can be explained in more detail. We shall provide the link to those interested.

As was explained at last Wednesday’s AGM, we don’t yet know exactly when or how the auditions for principal parts for our next production will take place – although our target is for this to happen in June – but we now have some notes prepared by Rae and Eddie that will help you “get your act into gear”, so to speak. Choose from the parts on offer at this link, and start working now. It will also help you deal with the coronavirus blues!

Those of you who are paid-up members of the Dunfermline Gilbert and Sullivan Society should have already received notice by email that the 50th Annual General Meeting of the Society will take place at 7.30pm on Wednesday 13 May 2020. Given the present lock-down situation this will take place using the Zoom platform. An agenda will be sent out in advance of the meeting, and John Allen will send you an email invitation with a link to the meeting.

If you have not received this email notice, but are entitled to attend this virtual meeting, you need to contact Ellen (ku.gro.ssagdnull@nelle), so she can add you to John’s list. [If Zoom is new to you, you might find this introduction of help]

At the meeting, the Vice Chair (Mike Pendlowski), Administration Manager (Ellen Patrick), Social and Fundraising Manager (Sinead Black) and Publicity Manager (Geoff Strong) will retire by rotation. The current post-holders are available for possible re-election. Nominations (with the nominees’ consents) for all four posts are invited.

Because of advice in relation to Covid-19, the decision has been taken to postpone the 50th Anniversary Mikado Concert, scheduled for Friday 19 June in Limekilns Parish Church. Watch our Home Page for further announcements.

Meantime, there will be no rehearsals, and the rehearsal planned for Wednesday 18 March has been cancelled – please pass on the message to anyone who might have been planning to attend.

Some of our older members may remember George Hutchison, who sang with the Society in the mid-1980s and directed four of our shows at the turn of the Millennium. More details at this link.

George’s funeral service at Perth Crematorium (PH1 2PE) will take place at 10.30am on Wednesday 5 February, when all friends are invited to celebrate the life of this incredible man. Bright colours are encouraged. You are warmly invited to the reception after the service at the Civil Service Club, St Leonard’s Bank, PH2 8EB.

John Allen has just confirmed that the Society will be singing carols at Tesco (Fire Station) from 2.30pm on Saturday 21 December. More details later – for security reasons you’ll probably need to book your place with John in advance of the gig – but meanwhile, please keep the date!

HMS Pinafore will be weighing anchor before we know it, and our production rehearsals start(ed) this week – the principals yesterday; the chorus tomorrow.

Note that it still isn’t too late to join the crew! If you’re new to the Society chorus, there’s the extra bonus that your first year will be at half-price (£60, instead of £120), so there’s every incentive to be a Jolly Jack or one of Sir Joseph’s many female relations.

The schedules can be downloaded at these links – principals; chorus – though expect some adjustments to be announced as things progress. The usual arrangements: Monday rehearsals for principals; Wednesday rehearsals for chorus and most principals; Sunday afternoon rehearsals for all start on 12 January; Monday rehearsals for chorus start 3 February.