This year (2021) marks a landmark longstanding York Light Committee member, Geoff Turner with 55 years of AmDram service. We asked him to reflect on his time over the years…
My amateur theatrical career began in my home town of Morecambe, with my parents’ society called Morecambe Warblers; yes really! And that society is still performing to this day.
G&S and operettas at university followed, before arriving in York to join ‘the Light’ for the production of “Pickwick” in 1975. And I’ve been here ever since.
Even without the benefit of rose coloured spectacles, I can look back and believe that in the world of “am drams” I enjoyed the very best of times. The York Light not only staged shows at the very pinnacle of performance standard but was a social unit too; we worked hard together and we played hard together. As well as superb shows (Bitter Sweet,
Pirates and Witches rank amongst my favourites), I’m remembering concert tours to Ireland and Holland, NODA cabarets at Bridlington and Scarborough, performing at the Royal Albert Hall, garden parties, autumn fayres, barn dances, theatre visits & etc.
So thank you York Light for 45 of those 55 years and to mis-quote Albin from La Cage Aux Folles; “The Best of Times was Then”