Hello Dolly!

 

Tickets are on sale at the Grand Theatre Box Office for our 2019 show, Hello Dolly! Click here to go to the Grand Theatre website to buy tickets. In addition you can click here to register an interest in tickets for our 2020 show, Shrek, and we will contact you to let you know when the Box Office opens for ticket sales for that show.

 

Come and Join Us!

 

BOP is always looking to welcome new members to join us for our shows. We welcome  dancers, singers and actors who are interested in auditioning for a show. In general members who wish to take part must be 16 years old or over (dependent on the show in production) and be willing to commit to a schedule of regular rehearsals running from October each year through to the show in April. If you are interested in joining us click here to register.

 

Sad News

 

It is with a heavy heart that BOP bring all our followers some sad news. Our President, Doreen Harbron, passed away 29th January 2019 at the age of 94.

 

Doreen was an elegant, eloquent, simply wonderful lady, with an exceptional wit. She was a founder member of Blackpool Operatic Players and has remained a member ever since its forming in 1953. Doreen was BOP’s biggest fan and, it goes without saying, she will be greatly missed. Our love and thoughts are with Jane, Nigel and the family. We include below an extract from a story told by Doreen that illustrates this wonderful lady's passion for all things BOP and operatic...

 

“It was 1953 when this wonderful society began. I remember my singing teacher saying “I have some interesting news Doreen, I have been invited along with several other members of Blackpool Music Society to form an amateur operatic group to perform at the Grand Theatre. I thought of you as a Blackpool girl and as a pupil of mine, you would like to be among the first active members”,

 

That was almost like a command! And before I could take a breath, I was invited to audition for a part in the first production. We had no problem in finding members for our cast and the future looked very promising. It was amazing, everyone rallied round. Ladies sat for hours sewing costumes and making things fit. Costumiers were so helpful in every way. Dresses and uniforms appeared from packing cases where they had been stored away for years….we were in business!!

 

Blackpool Operatic Players has acquired a wonderful name for itself and the Fylde Coast population have supported us wonderfully too over the years. Those original far-seeing people who gave our society an opportunity to grow and flourish are now watching their children and grandchildren performing in their shoes.  Many of our current members come from families who, in their younger days, were active in the society and are determined to continue their love of theatre today. Looking back on the number of shows we have given for so many years, it is quite remarkable to realise how things have changed since 1953 and how versatile the society has had to become. Gone are the days of crinoline dresses and ‘Top C’s’. Now the society tackles West End shows that are vibrant and current for the audiences of today.

 

It is a wonderful hobby. You learn to do so many things in a fantastically friendly environment that you soon come to call ‘your BOP family’,”

 

BOP Concert Party

 

A talented group of BOP’s members have formed a Concert Party, with a flexible programme of popular and well-known songs from smash-hit musicals, to perform at events across the Fylde and surrounding areas. Most recently the Concert Party was invited to entertain volunteers and staff at a Volunteers Appreciation Evening at Trinity Hospice in Bispham. Their performance was very well received with a rare standing ovation from the attendees!

 

Lorraine Oxley, Volunteering & Community Engagement Manager at Trinity Hospice said:

“Trinity was delighted to welcome back Blackpool Operatic Players who provided fantastic entertainment for our wonderful volunteers. A fabulous night thoroughly enjoyed by all. We hope they will return!”

 

The Concert Party are increasingly in demand and are now building a schedule of performances. If you would like to register interest in booking the group to enhance your event, please click here for further details.

 

Our 2020 Show!

 

BOP have been selected to present the Fylde Coast première production of Shrek The Musical in April 2020. With two great shows in Hello Dolly! and Shrek we look forward to continuing our recent run of hit productions at the Grand Theatre.