WELCOME

About us

Delivering spectacular, high-quality productions for audiences in Nottingham and beyond.

Founded in 1893, Nottingham Operatic Society began life as one of the social groups of the Nottingham Mechanics’ Institution. Since then, we have performed over 135 shows and concerts in many of the city's most iconic venues. Since 1925, our spiritual home has been the magnificent Theatre Royal Nottingham.

Over the decades, our members have experienced—and helped bring to life—the evolution of the modern musical. We began with comic opera and the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, later embracing the earliest English musicals and moving through the golden age of Broadway classics. In more recent years, we have taken on the works of contemporary composers such as Stephen Sondheim, Jerry Herman, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Frank Wildhorn, Alan Menken, and Stephen Schwartz.

JOIN OUR SOCIETY

We are dedicated to providing everyone with the opportunity to experience the joy of performing or contributing behind the scenes in productions

Learn more & Apply to join

“I believe that in a great city, or even in a small city or a village, a great theatre is the outward and visible sign of an inward and probable culture.”

— Laurence Olivier

Who Manages the Society?

We have been a registered charity since 1958, and are governed by a Board of Trustees, who are all members of the Society.

Charity Number: 256983

Our charitable purpose has remained constant since 1893 and we are passionate about supporting people to enjoy live theatre.

“To provide education and entertainment for members of the general public by giving a wide range of affordable, concessionary theatrical performances and concerts of music, drama and dance in the Nottingham area. To improve on performing or backstage skills for both amateur and professional members. Where possible to provide funds, time and performances to help charities.”

— our charitable purpose

Presidents & Committee

Featured

Patrick Humphreys

President

Alan Martin

President

Simon Theobald

Chairman & Honorary Treasurer

Caroline Harper

Vice-Chairman

Drew Dennis

Honorary Business Manager

Rosie Poesl

Honorary Secretary

Amanda Dixon-Smith

Marketing Coordinator & General Committee

Laurel Jones

General Committee

Nick Smith

General Committee

Zak Charlesworth

Production Assistant & General Committee

Frank Nicholson

General Committee

Creative Team

Each year, we appoint a Director, Musical Director, and Choreographer to collaborate with the Theatre Royal technical team and our Society in producing professional-quality shows.

For our next musical, we’re excited to announce that we will be working with Justine Lee and Rob Murray.

Justine Lee - Director and Choreographer

Justine has been working professionally for fourteen years as both a choreographer and performer. She trained at Arts Ed and the AMTA, graduating in 2011 as the recipient of the Dance Award. She is now co-principal of the Lisa Gail Theatre School, resident choreographer for TaleGate Theatre Productions and Tap teacher at Studio 79 and EPA.

Choreography credits include Curtains (West Bridgford Operatic Society), Guys and Dolls (Nottingham Operatic Society), Goose (National Tour and Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Neverland (Palace Theatre, Mansfield), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Nottingham Operatic Society), The Queen’s Knickers (UK Tour and West End), Practically Perfect (Palace Theatre, Mansfield), Different Class (Barons Court Theatre), On Paper (Young Actors Theatre, Islington), The Visit (New Wimbledon Youth Theatre), Cyrano of Brixton (Brockley Jack Theatre).

As a performer, Justine has appeared in over twenty professional productions including The Queen’s Knickers (UK Tour and West End), Father Christmas Needs A Wee! (Swindon Arts Centre), Father Christmas Comes Up Trumps (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), The Giant’s Loo Roll (UK Tour), Fifty Days of Grey (UK Tour), Honk! (The Lost Theatre).

Rob Murray - Musical Director

Rob studied music with instrumental and vocal teaching at University of Chichester. Here he studied trumpet with Fraser Tannock and Paul Sharp, and conducting, musical direction and orchestration with Dominic Nunns and Crispin Ward.

Theatre work as Musical Director include - Priscilla Queen of the Desert; Ghost; The Little Mermaid; Shrek; Hello Dolly! Return to the Forbidden Planet; Jesus Christ Superstar; Kiss Me Kate; Thoroughly Modern Millie; Just So; Footloose; The Witches of Eastwick; Bad Girls; Oliver! 9 to 5; The Addams Family; Spamalot; Top Hat; Cinderella; Whistle Down The Wind; The Wedding Singer; Guys & Dolls.

Other shows as trumpeter/keyboards include - The Nativity (trumpet/assistant MD), West Side Story; Les Misérables; Crazy for You; The Hired Man; White Christmas; Jekyll and Hyde; Beauty and the Beast; School of Rock; The Wedding Singer; Sweeny Todd; Jesus Christ Superstar; High Society; Legally Blond; Tosca and many more.

As arranger and orchestrator, recent works include - Aladdin, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Mother Goose, Dick Whittington, Peter Pan and Animal Farm.

Rob has had the pleasure of working with Beverley Knight; Amy-Lou (Britain’s Got Talent); Bruce Jones (Coronation Street); Bradley Hunt (The X Factor); Sandi Bogle (Gogglebox); Stevi Ritchie (The X Factor); Christopher Maloney (The X Factor).

Away from theatre, Rob is Company Director for Music Academy for Schools, a company specialising in music education, ensembles and workshops. He is also the brass teacher at Denstone College Preparatory School and Denstone College.

Rob is a member of the International Academy of Performing Arts and Sciences, working as an adjudicator for the ENKOR International Chamber Ensemble, Brass and Woodwind Competitions.

Nottingham Operatic Society is a member of NODA

Our Shows