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New Faces In A Gay Musical
15 Sep 1971
Possible Burnley Municipal College, Ormerod Road, Burnley
Members of the Light Opera Society rehearse for "Maritza". At the back are B. Sagar, Derek Blake, Barbara Coulthurst, Roy Oldroyd and Cynthia Fort. In front are Joe Horridge and Cynthia Taylor.
From an article by Norman Powell:
In spite of the bitter blow suffered by the Burnley Light Opera Society by the loss of the Empire Theatre as the venue for its productions, the society is determined to maintain its reputation in the amateur theatre. It appears that the era of the large scale musical is over for the time being, but the society's productions of "Maritza" on the Municipal College theatre stage should be an attraction. "Maritza" is a gay, tuneful show and eminently suitable for an intimate theatre like the college. Certain difficulties have been encountered with casting but I understand from publicity secretary Harry Wright that these have now been resolved and rehearsals are well advanced under the direction of producer Hilda Basnett.
Two players new to Burnley will be appearing, Joe Horidge of Farnworth, cast as Bela Torok and Roy Oldroyd of Clitheroe will play Populescu. Bernard Sagar will be making his first appearance in the part of Prince Zoupan and Derek Blake and Leslie Tyson are also in the cast. Well-known local actress Barbara Coulthurst will play Maritza and Cynthia Taylor and Joan Waterworth are cast as Liza and Baroness Populescu respectively.
