HELENSBURGH'S musical theatre experts have celebrated 40 years of entertaining the community with a stellar performance.
Helensburgh Savoy are marking their 40th anniversary and put on a run of Disney's Beauty and the Beast at the town's Victoria Halls this month.
Amateur dramatics and music fans gathered in a church hall in 1984 to start their run with The Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan.
The Victorian composers remained a staple of the 1980s and 1990s, such as with The Gondoliers and The Pirates of Penzance.
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Savoy/Martin J Windebank)
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Savoy/Martin J Windebank)
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Savoy/Martin J Windebank)
But they began to take on new musicals, with Fiddler on the Roof in 1998 and My Fair Lady in 2000.
Committee member Roz Philips said: "G&S will always have a special place in the club’s history, but it was time to give audiences and the membership what they wanted - modern musicals. The musicals of the West End, Broadway and Hollywood.”
Anything Goes, Legally Blonde, Guys and Dolls, and more filled their repertoire.
Club chairperson Jane Hepworth said: "Our productions have certainly changed in recent years."
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Savoy/Martin J Windebank)
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Savoy/Martin J Windebank)
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Savoy/Martin J Windebank)
More choreography, bigger budgets and more work sees annual shows as well as the Mad About Musicals concert every April. And there are the June charity concerts, Variety at the Vic.
Club member Emily MacGillivray said: "It is a night to showcase the talents of local music and dance groups while raising money for our chosen charity.
“The charity aspect is important to us as a community group as part of our constitution our members select a charity and we spend 12 months collecting money and supporting it.
"This year it’s been The Community Hub but over the years we’ve raised more than £42,000 in donations for a huge variety of local and national charities. We are proud to be a part of that.”
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Savoy/Martin J Windebank)
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Savoy/Martin J Windebank)
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Savoy/Martin J Windebank)
Beauty and the Beast required nearly a year of work since acquiring the rights in December 2023.
Musical director Pamela Frew, artistic director Roz, choreographer Danielle Pearson and a host of cast and crew brought it all together.
The club said: "The costumes are being sized, fitted and gathered; set and props are being crafted and assembled.
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Savoy/Martin J Windebank)
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Savoy/Martin J Windebank)
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Savoy/Martin J Windebank)
"There is sound and lighting and programmes and posters and front of house to consider.
"Tickets must be sold and funds need to be raised to pay for all this and most of us have full time jobs, education, families and friends to squeeze into our lives as well."
So why do they do it? "For the love of performing... for the buzz," said Lynsey Rippon-Leboulanger.
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Savoy/Martin J Windebank)
“To be part of a show that begins as a concept and progresses with team work and talent,” said Mark Trick, “is the greatest feeling in the world."
Here's to another 40 years!
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