Alderley & Wilmslow Amateur Operatic Society was founded in 1947 at a meeting in the ballroom of the Rex Theatre, Wilmslow, by 12 young, keen members who had broken away from the Wilmslow Musical Comedy Society (which folded in 1955).

    Founded with the aim of "cultivating the Art of Musical Drama and promoting entertainment of a social nature..." it was 1949 and many fund-raising events in-between before the curtains rose on the first production - Lionel Monckton's "A Country Girl".  The Souvenir program carried the message "Ladies - Kindly Remove Your Hats"!, and the North Western Electricity Board exhorted us to "use our electricity out of peak hours, or you may stop cows from being milked".

    In 1947 the society joined the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) - an organisation whose purpose is to bring together members of amateur societies for their mutual benefit.  The Association, whose Patron is The Lord Lloyd-Webber, has a membership of over 2,300 societies world-wide and over 2,450 individual members, and provides information and practical help to all it's members.  We are proud to add the laurel leaves to the NODA logo - to denote a member of 50 years standing!

    Under the chairmanship of Cllr. Mrs. Mabel Evans, J.P., C.C. (who was the Dramatic Coach), the first 3 productions took place at the Public Hall on Church Street (now the site of Waitrose Supermarket).  The Rex Theatre then became the Society's home from "The Quaker Girl" to "My Fair Lady" - some 34 years of musical comedy and pantomimes.  In 1969 we ventured into Music Hall back at the old Public Hall, as a fund-raising exercise - and a lot of fun, and have carried on to date producing a Music Hall or Spring Shows in a venue other then our main "Theatre".  Before the Rex closed as a Theatre, Chris Paling, Jean Patterson, Geoffrey Nield, Cliff Walker, Charles Ingham, Frank Lee-White (founder of the Manchester Musical Awards), Peter Howard and Mike Doyle all Directed musicals for the Society, and in 1985 Mike Doyle became the first Director of a major musical in our current venue, the Evans Theatre (endowed by the Society's founding Chairman and President) in the Wilmslow Leisure Centre, with Rodger & Hammerstein's "Carousel".  In 1988 Mike Penlington took over the Producing/Directing reins, and was with the Society until "South Pacific" in 2002 when he retired.  Ryan Ellershaw directed the next 4 shows and the 2007 production of "Oliver" was directed by Ali Davenport.

    Thousands of people have contributed over the years to the Society's success.  Many a leading man or lady has gone on to the professional stage and we are proud to have been in their background.