MARION SAUVEBOIS meets an operatic group with a family feel

AN INCLUSIVE family is how members have described Wootton Bassett Light Operatic Society – or WBLOS to those in the know.

Having fun while offering great entertainment are the amateur troupe’s key goals, and members have been managing both since 1977.

“We are a fully inclusive group, everyone is made welcome with no auditions for new members, except for those wishing to go for principle roles in each show,” said chairman Stuart Dark.

“We consider ourselves to be the WBLOS family made up of all ages who rehearse mainly on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons for panto, always with the emphasise on having fun while also putting on a good show.”

The WBLOS story starts in 1977, the year of the Queen’s silver jubilee.

Like thousands of towns and villages up and down the country, Wootton Bassett turned out in force to mark the event.

Part of the town’s celebrations was a carnival procession. On one of the floats were a number of Wootton Bassett’s leading singers, entertaining the crowds with a selection of songs from operettas and musicals.

Such was the success that the organiser of the float, Brian Taylor, decided that the town deserved to have its own light operatic society and WBLOS was formed.

These days, WBLOS has a thriving adult section which performs two shows a year, while the junior section entertains the town with a musical every other summer and a number of concerts throughout the year.

Actors’ shared loved of the theatre sees them travelling to various theatres across the region to take in a show now and then.

“We have various other social events during the year, including trips to see other shows and support the thriving local theatre community,” added Stuart.

The group is preparing for its spring production of The Sound of Music and is busy rehearsing its pantomime, Sinbad the Sailor, which will open at the end of January.

To join WBLOS or for more information, visit www.wblos.org.uk or email webmaster@wblos.org.uk.