PODS - THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS

Peterborough Operatic and Dramatic Society (P.O.D.S) was formed in 1900 with the first production, " Iolanthe", taking place in the spring of 1901.

In common with most amateur societies at this time our first performances were Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. Subscriptions were set at half a crown and the cost to hire the Theatre Royal for one week was £24. The Theatre Royal, or Empire as it was more commonly known, was on Broadway (Peterborough), next door to where the Library is now.

Notable dates in our first decade are 1903 when we joined N.O.D.A. and 1908 when special trains were organised from Stamford and Spalding ( both in Lincolnshire) to transport our audiences. Our second decade was interrupted by the first World War. In 1915 we performed "H.M.S. Pinafore" and our next show, "The Gondoliers", did not take place until 1920.

Until the mid-twenties our performances were for four nights only: in 1925 it was decided to increase this to six with a matinee. The following year a fund was started to build the Memorial Hospital. The Society voted to give £100 to this fund (equivalent to over £17,000  in 2007) and a plaque listing contributors can still be found in the foyer of the original building (Midland Rd, Peterborough). In 1929 we performed our last Gilbert and Sullivan operetta ,"Yeoman of the Guard".

The 1930's are important in our history as four members who joined us in this decade went on to be awarded the N.O.D.A. Diamond Star Long Service Medal.
It will be many years before any other member receives this award.

In 1937 Jack Bancroft built the Embassy Theatre (Broadway Peterborough): this magnificent art deco building would be our home for the next forty years. Sadly it is no longer a theatre but a night-club. Once again a World War prevented us from performing for six years. During this time fund raising events took place. Notably we raised £20,which was given to the Mayor's fund to purchase a Spitfire for the RAF. The Society's minutes of 1945 record that sixteen members of the society were serving with the forces.

To mark our 50th anniversary, the proceeds from the Monday night performances of "Maid of the Mountains" were donated to The British Limbless Ex-Servicemens Association. For our Diamond Jubilee year in 1960 we performed the ever popular "Carousel". To celebrate, we held a dance in the new ballroom at Peterborough United Football Club. In 1968 the hit show "My Fair Lady" was released for amateurs, but only for a limited period, so for the first time ever we staged two shows in one year: "Orphous in the Underworld" in March and "My Fair Lady" in November. We did two shows again in 1970 when permission for us to perform "The Sound of Music" was obtained Our 75th anniversary show was "Showboat", and another milestone fell in 1980 with our last show at the Embassy – "The Sound of Music" again.  Fortunately for us the Key Theatre had opened and a contract was signed for us to perform "South Pacific" at this new theatre in 1981. During the last two decades of the 20th Century our Society has gone from strength to strength. Many of our loyal members have received Long Service Medals from N.O.D.A, and our shows have achieved a standard that our Committee of 1900 would be proud to see.

We aim to keep Musical Theatre alive and well in Peterborough for the next 100 years.