IT was a modest production but with far reaching effects.
In 1924 Edith Ashdown took part in a musical play entitled Princess Juju for the Above Bar Guild.
But the occasion made such an impression on her that she persuaded friends – including one who ran a local ladies’ choir – to establish the Above Bar Musical Choir and Dramatic Society.
Their first offering was Merrie England, which was staged at the old Watts Hall and ran for three nights on a specially constructed stage.
They didn’t realise it but that performance led to the founding of the Southampton Operatic Society and now its chairman and archivist Terry O’Farrell has written a fascinating book for the company’s 90th anniversary.
It chronicles its highs and lows with a look back at the 120 shows it has put on.
A more in depth look at the book will appear in Saturday’s Daily Echo.
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