Becoming a Member

Our yearly programme generally includes a full scale production performed at the Palace Theatre in Watford and a summer show or concert that we give in the village of Abbots Langley at the Henderson Hub. 

Chorus rehearsals usually take place on Monday nights, with principals being rehearsed on Fridays.  These can change from time to time, but in general we don’t ask chorus to attend a rehearsal more than once a week until nearer the show. Depending on the nature of our main show, rehearsals get more intense as we lead up to the first night with 2-3 possible Sundays included in the schedule.  A typical show week consists of a band call & rehearsal on the Sunday, technical rehearsal on Monday evening, with a dress rehearsal on Tuesday followed by performances Wednesday through to Saturday (including a Saturday Matinee).  For the summer concert / show the schedule is not usually so demanding, and the show week is often from Tuesday or Wednesday to the Saturday night.

We consider ourselves very lucky in that we have been able to perform our main G&S production at the Palace Theatre in Watford each year, and that in previous years we have been invited to take part in the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in the Buxton Opera House.  We have been nominated for many of the festival awards over the years and in 2008 we came 2nd runners up in the festival for our production of ‘Ruddigore’.  A few of our members have also been nominated for or have won a variety of performance awards. Last February we staged Oklahoma following our successful production of Carousel a couple of years earlier.

Our smaller production takes place in the summer.  In July 2019 we performed Wind in the Willows by Stiles and Drew to great acclaim and sold out houses. 

Membership:

Current performing membership costs £150 per year, payable in instalments. We pride ourselves on NOT charging show fees.

The membership fee entitles the member to take part in rehearsals and any shows performed during the year (which runs from beginning of July to end of June). Very occasionally restrictions are placed on chorus numbers (the Palace Theatre stage is not huge) but this is quite rare.  Members also receive a regular newsletter.

There are also other levels of membership, including Non-Performing, Student and Friend.  These have a lower membership fee.  We also have a Patron’s scheme. More information on which can be found here.

Social:

The society arranges many social activities for all its membership, including Dinner Dances, Quiz nights, Summer BBQs, and the like.  We have also arranged theatre trips to London or to see members perform in other shows in the area.

Do come and see us at one of our next rehearsals; we will be delighted to meet you.

We mainly rehearse in the Baptist Church in Abbots Langley (School Mead), but on occasion we rehearse at the St Lawrence Church Hall, Henderson Hall or Divine Saviour School, all in Abbots Langley.  Do let us know if you plan to come (by emailing or calling me – details below) and if for any reason you cannot find me on that night, any member of the Executive Committee will be happy to see you and introduce you to other members of the society.

ALGSS Policies:

Emma Stratton – Membership Secretary 07967 752311 or email membership@algss.org.uk