Imperial College Operatic Society Programmes

Includes some college productions that I found in my bottom drawer. And many thanks to Roger Nicholls for lending me his collection of programmes to fill in some of the gaps and extend the range. Colin Davis has kindly added Pinafore from 1970 to the archive along with some photos of the cast. A further seven arrived in 2019 from Stuart Blackburne and Nigel Stevens has sent his set designs for a number of productions along with some photos. Roger Nicholls found some more in 2019 to help fill the gaps. Andy Potter has sent some set plans. I photographed several posters at the 2022 reunion and Colin Davis has added more material from the early years. John Britten sent some late period programmes. Some more 1980s programmes have come in from Bill White, including two from the marathon multi-opera singathons held for charity. I've received a list of known performances from the various programmes together with a note of whether a programme is available, or a recording. Click here.

I've taken the liberty of colouring some of the line drawings on the covers, hopefully in a tasteful manner. A few include the poster displayed at Budleigh Salterton prior to the tour. Some contain a copy of the programme autographed by the cast & crew.

A late arrival in 2024 from Fred Shaub was the earliest known programme - from the 1965 tour to Folkestone of The Mikado by the 'Imperial College Gilbert & Sullivan Group'. To beat that, Paul Smith then brought not just the programme from the same show but also one from the preceding College production of Iolanthe in February 1965 and the following College productioin of Trial by Jury and HMS Pinafore in February 1966.

	1965 Iolanthe at College
	1965 The Mikado at Folkestone
	1966 Trial by Jury & HMS Pinafore at College
	1968 Pirates of Penzance at College
	1969 The Mikado at Budleigh Salterton and At Pinhoe Photos (Nigel Stevens) Poster
	1970 HMS Pinafore at College and Photos (Colin Davis collection)
	1970 The Pirates of Penzance at Budleigh Salterton (+ autographed copy) Pinhoe Programme Posters & Flyers also recruitment & schedule Photos (Nigel Stevens & Colin Davis)
	1971 Patience at College Poster & Flyer Colin Davis memorabilia Photos
	1971 The Gondoliers at Budleigh Salterton Photos (Nigel Stevens & Colin Davis) Poster Autographed programme
	1972 The Yeomen of the Guard at College Set design (Nigel Stevens) Photos Barney Burnham
	1972 The Sorcerer at Budleigh Salterton Set design and photos (Nigel Stevens) Poster & Charity Concert Photos Colin Davis
	1973 Iolanthe at College Set designs, Acts 1 & 2
	1973 The Zoo at College
	1973 Ruddigore at Budleigh Set design and photos (Nigel Stevens) Poster
	1974 Princess Ida at College Set design (Nigel Stevens) Poster Photos (Colin Davis)
	1974 HMS Pinafore & Trial by Jury at Budleigh Salterton Charity Concert Set design (Nigel Stevens) Poster Reviews Photos (Nigel Stevens & Colin Davis)
	1975 The Mikado at College Set design (Nigel Stevens) Poster Photos (Colin Davis)
	1975 Patience at Budleigh Salterton Charity concert Set design and photos (Nigel Stevens) Poster
	1976 Utopia Ltd at College Set design (Nigel Stevens)
	1976 Pirates of Penzance at Budleigh Salterton 1976 Charity Concert Photos and Set Designs (Andy Potter) Poster
	1977 Orpheus in the underworld at College Set plans by Ian Gledhill (courtesy Andy Potter) New members poster

	1977 Yeomen of the guard at Budleigh Salterton 1977 Charity Concert Set plan & backdrop (Andy Potter)
	1977 Anniversary concert at Budleigh Salterton.
	1978 The Gondoliers at College. Poster
	1978 Iolanthe (programme A) at Budleigh Salterton. (programme B). 1978 Charity Concert Photo Set Designs (Andy Potter)
	1979 The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein at College.
	1979 Princess Ida at Budleigh Salterton. 1979 Charity Concert
	1980 The Sorcerer at College.
	1980 The Mikado at Budleigh Salterton.
	1981 Ruddigore at College. Fiddler on the roof - handwritten programme
	1981 HMS Pinafore & Trial by Jury at Budleigh Salterton. 1981 Charity Concert
	1982 Patience at College.
	1982 Marathon Fourteen G&S operas perfomed at College consecutively overnight on 1st & 2nd May as a fund raiser for charity.
	1982 Utopia Ltd at Budleigh Salterton. 1982 Charity Concert
	1983 Yeomen of the guard at College.
	1983 The Gondoliers at Budleigh Salterton. 1983 Charity Concert
	1984 Iolanthe at College.
	1984 The Pirates of Penzance at Budleigh Salterton. 1984 Charity Concert
	1985 The Grand Duke and Horrortorio at College.
	1985 The Sorcerer at Budleigh Salterton.
	1986 Princess Ida in February at College.
	1986 Bessie's Dilemma in March at College Also: Widgets in October at College.
	1986 The Mikado at Budliegh Salterton.

	1987 Marathon production of 13 Savoy operas consecutively in aid of charity at College - an event that only takes place every 5 years.
	1987 Patience at Budliegh Salterton.
	1988 The Gondoliers at College.
	1988 The Yeomen of the Guard at Budleigh. 1988 Charity Concert
	1988 St George & the Dragon Christmas show at at Budleigh.
	1989 The Pirates of Penzance in February at College.
	1989 Bernstein on Broadway in March at College.
	Iolanthe 1989 at Budleigh Salterton. 1989 Charity Concert
	1990 Utopia Ltd at College.
	1990 Ruddygore at Budleigh Salterton.
	1991 HMS Pinafore at Budleigh Salterton.
	1992 Silver jubilee at Budleigh Salterton.
	1993 Princess Ida at Budleigh Salterton.
	1994 Pirates of Penzance at Budleigh Salterton.
	1995 Cabaret at College.
	1995 Yeomen of the Guard at Budleigh Salterton.
	1996 The boyfriend at College.
	1997 Ruddigore at Budleigh Salterton.
	1998 Patience at Budleigh Salterton.
	2001 HMS Pinafore at Budleigh Salterton.
	2003 The Grand Duke at Budleigh Salterton.
	2004 Anything Goes at Budleigh Salterton.

Imperial College Operatic Society Programmes

Some other memorabilia from Roger Nicholls' collection