Our History
A look back at the Group's origins
In the spring of 1924 during the depression, the Holy Trinity church choral society of Murton came up with the idea of producing a musical concert to raise funds to purchase shoes for the people of Murton. They performed “The Mandarin” for 3 nights at the Murton Olympia Theatre and from here Murton Amateur Operatic Society was formed.
Initial rehearsals were held in the back room of 2 Knaresboro’ Road, Murton. They re-performed “The Mandarin” in 1925 at the request of local people and their success and growth continues to date.
In the spring of 1928 a concert entitled “Jerry Bundler” was produced to sponsor a bed at the Infirmary Hospital, Sunderland. The amount required was £30.00 and the Society was successful. The plaque commemorating the Society’s efforts remained displayed until the Hospitals closure.
The society grew in popularity to the extent that in 1933, a production of “The Quaker Girl” saw more people turned away from the theatre than were inside. It was common practice for people to queue from 5am to secure a ticket for a performance.
Only very few years has a show not been produced by the Society since its formation; once was in 1939 when the proposed production of “Goodnight Vienna” was cancelled due to Austrian overtones of the show and the almost certain prospect of war.
Murton Amateurs were one of the first societies in the county to go on tour taking in the villages of Ryhope, Thornley, Wheatley Hill, Trimdon and Sherburn Hill, with their repeat production of the “The Desert Song”.
Murton Amateurs completed their first 25 years with a production of “Rose Marie” in 1950 and their first pantomime “Babes In The Wood” in 1952. They also organised and sponsored a talent contest for local school children. Murton were also the first of 3 societies permitted to produce the brand new show “The Merry Widow”.
In 1969 the Society moved to the Miners Welfare Hall (now known as the Glebe Centre) from the Rex Theatre.
The Society continued to flourish and in 1993 produced one of their most ambitious projects to date “Blitz” set in wartime London with a genuine air raid warning siren for which special permission to use had to be sought from the police and local authority.
In 1992 a Youth section was formed with their first production being “Oliver!” which has recently been repeated in 2009.
In 1999 for the first time since its creation the society was forced to move out of Murton to perform their annual show, moving to East Durham College in Peterlee
2009 brought up our eighty four years and Murton and East Durham Musical Theatre Group (having changed its name in 2006) are proud to pay tribute to those first members who years ago decided to form a society. The society continues to flourish and performs 2 productions a year with both an Adult and Youth Society.
We continue to welcome new members whether they be in a performance, production or audience member capacity and look forward look forward to a long and prosperous future.