About Us

On 17th February 1892 at a meeting in the High Street, Worcester, the Worcester Operatic & Dramatic Society was founded. The first production, HMS Pinafore, was presented at the Public Hall in Worcester to capacity houses. The second production, Patience, was moved to the Theatre Royal in Angel Street. A surplus of £60 was donated to the Royal Infirmary.
At the Annual General meeting at the Star Hotel in 1893, the membership subscription was fixed at one guinea (£1.05) per year, to include six free seats! Since these inaugural days, a considerable sum has been donated to many local charities.

Recent decades have seen many changes in the work of the Society, moving on to more ambitious productions, including most of the modern full scale musicals. In 1954 we lost the Theatre Royal due to redevelopment, but happily moved to the Festival Theatre at Malvern, where we performed our Autumn show for many years.

Conscious of being a Worcester Society, we consider ourselves fortunate in having the Swan Theatre in Worcester, where, since 1966 we have also put on a Spring show. The theatre is now run by Huntingdon Arts.

In 1981 with the support of members and friends, the society purchased it’s own home at St Mary’s Hall, Northfield Street, Worcester, where you will find us on Wednesday nights at 7.30pm.