The Society was founded in 1971 by a small group of musical theatre enthusiasts and now has over 450 members. Our productions are mostly in English, although our membership hails from many countries. While we are an amateur group, some of our members have played in the professional theatre, which helps us to present a high level of performance in our singing, dancing and acting. We put on three major stage productions each year at theatres in or near Geneva:
- ten performances of a winter production in the month before Christmas, usually a traditional English pantomime, for children of all ages;
- five or more performances of an operetta or musical comedy, usually with full orchestra, in March or April;
- a summer show in June, such as a Music Hall, cabaret or revue, with about six performances.
We also hold two or three Musical Evenings each year at which song and instrumental performances are followed by a specially arranged presentation, often taking an operetta or other musical show as its central theme. Our Choral Group also generally gives two concerts a year, in addition to organizing musical workshops from time to time and the annual GAOS Carol Concert.
GAOS has also participated in a number of festivals of English theatre or music in Bern, Geneva, France and, most recently, Waterford in Ireland.
GAOS has organised seminars on various aspects of theatre technique, such as production/directing, lighting, make-up, chorus movement and voice production. Some of these seminars and workshops have been led by instructors from NODA (the National Operatic and Dramatic Association of the UK) or from the professional theatre.
Over the years, GAOS has acquired a considerable stock of material for set construction, as well as lighting and sound equipment and stage properties of all sorts. We also have a well-stocked costume wardrobe. This material is occasionally rented to schools, music and dance academies and to other amateur groups.
GAOS is a non-profit making society and its members receive no payment. We receive no subsidies from any source, covering our costs solely by selling tickets for our productions. Our annual turnover is in the order of CHF 150 000 and, while most profits are absorbed by such things as the rental of theatres and storage and rehearsal space, we make substantial contributions - both directly and from the proceeds of our Musical Evenings and Choral Group concerts - to many charitable organisations, mostly local. In recent years, these have included the Swiss Association for Sierra Leone, the Geneva organization "Le C.A.R.E.", Handicap International - Special Section for Landmine Victims, La Maison des Enfants in Nyon, The English-Speaking Cancer Support Group, Hope Romania, Blind-Aid for Africa and "Le Colis du Coeur" Geneva.
We believe that, both artistically and socially, the Geneva Amateur Operatic Society's contribution to the community is significant as well as enjoyable and worthwhile for its members. |
