A scene from Beauty and the Beast, 2012 (2)

Adapted from the 1991 Walt Disney film of the same name, the Beauty and the Beast musical follows the unfolding love story between Belle and a cold blooded prince who has been transformed into an ugly beast as punishment for his selfishness. The musical first opened in 1994 and ran until 2007, becoming Broadway’s 10th longest running production in history. The T.A.O.D.S staged their own production of Beauty and the Beast in 2012 at Hall for Cornwall. This photograph of a scene from the performance captures the production’s extremely detailed set and costume designs.

Souvenir programme cover for Jolly Roger at The Regent Theatre Truro, 1937.

First performed in 1933, the Jolly Roger musical is set in Jamaica in 1690 and follows the events that follow in the aftermath of Jolly Roger’s arrest after being accused of piracy. The T.A.O.D.S staged a production of the musical at the Regent Theatre Truro between the 26th and 30th of October 1937. The show was produced by Arthur R. Hendy, who was accompanied by Bertram Lightbown as musical director.

Souvenir programme cover for The Count of Como at The Regent Theatre Truro, 1933

A comic opera in two acts, The Count of Como is set in the fictional ‘Oblivia’ and follows the events that unfold in the aftermath of the betrothal of the Grand Duke Otto’s daughter with the ‘rich but ridiculous’ Crown Prince. The T.A.O.D.S staged their own production of the opera at the Regent Theatre Truro between the 21st and 25th of February, 1933. It was produced under the sole direction of Elsie A. Hall who was accompanied by Gordon Hall as musical director. The scenery was ‘specially painted’ by E. I. Ellery of Truro, who had extensively photographed a large number of the local aristocracy in the first two decades of the 1900s. Mr. Ellery was also the scenic artist and stage manager for the society and had painted the scenery for its productions since its formation. The dresses and wigs for the production were made by B. J. Simmons & Co., London who were best known for their historical costume designs. Daintily decorated, the programme is in keeping with the art-deco design trends of the era.

Souvenir programme cover for The Gondoliers at The Regent Theatre Truro, 1936

The Gondoliers is the twelfth collaboration by Gilbert and Sullivan and is set in the fictional kingdom of Barataria. The comic opera follows the events which unfold when the young bride of the heir to the throne arrives in Venice. Premiering at the Savoy Theatre in 1889, it successively ran for 554 performances which, at that time, made it the fifth longest-running piece of musical theatre in history. The T.A.O.D.S staged their own production of the opera at the Regent Theatre Truro between the 11th and 15th of February, 1936. It was produced by Miss. Vera Ware who was accompanied by Mr. Bertram Lightbown as director of music.

Mr. E. I. Ellery

Pictured in this programme page is Mr E. I. Ellery who had extensively photographed a large number of the local aristocracy in the first two decades of the 1900s. Mr. Ellery was also the scenic artist and stage manager for the society and had painted the scenery for its productions since its formation. Also pictured is a photograph from a previous T.A.O.D.S production of The Mikado.

Programme cover for Trial by Jury and The Pirates of Penzance at The County Theatre Truro, 1931

Both comic operas by Gilbert and Sullivan, the T.A.O.D.S production of Trial By Jury and The Pirates of Penzance ran at The County Theatre Truro between the 3rd and 7th of February 1931. Included in the programme is the statement that ‘to write a synopsis of this essentially Gilbertian Dramatic Cantata is almost a sacriledge: The words and the humour are so rich…’

A scene from Showboat, 1992

First produced in 1927, the Showboat musical follows the lives and loves of the workers aboard the Cotton Blossom travelling showboat. The T.A.O.D.S performance of the musical ran at City Hall Truro between the 2nd and 7th of November 1992, although it had been produced by the society for decades. Joan and John Boreham produced this particular performance, with Joan also directing the choreography.