28th April - 1st May 2027
Winston Churchill Theatre, Ruislip
ROS Musical Theatre is an award winning community theatre group in Ruislip, North West London, United Kingdom.
Founded in 1923 - the same year as the likes of Disney, Time Magazine and Warner Brothers - ROS Musical Theatre (known for most its years as Ruislip Operatic Society) has been at the heart of live theatre in Ruislip ever since, creating over one hundred and thirty productions to date. Over the years, the Society has performed many different styles of live performance, ranging from the classics to modern musicals and music concerts. The group currently produces two full musical productions a year, alongside hosting various social gatherings and taking part in local community events.
Members of the Society hold a shared belief that live theatre brings people together in a remarkable way and are dedicated to bringing the magic of live performance to musical theatre fans and local community through a talented, inclusive and friendly society. Click here to get involved.
Use the menu at the top of the page to read our extended history or explore our online shop and blog. Alternatively, continue scrolling to learn more.
PREVIOUS SHOW IMAGES
With over a century of producing live theatre, ROS Musical Theatre has a rich and varied history. Members of the Society are passionate about providing top quality entertainment for our local community and wider London audience to enjoy.
In 2023, we digitalised much of our photo archive, with some images dating back to the 1920s when the Society was founded. As we look forward to the next one hundred years, we reflect on the many great shows and incredible memories we've made along the way.
HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY
During the early 1920s, Ruislip (North West London, UK) was experiencing rapid growth as a commuter suburb due to the Metropolitan Railway's "Metroland" expansion and post-World War I house building. Between 1921 and 1931, the area's population grew by nearly 76%. As Ruislip’s inhabitants increased, so did the demand for local entertainment and thus the idea for a local musical society was born. The suggestion for a musical society in Ruislip was officially proposed at a public meeting held by the Ruislip Association in December 1923. And so our story begins, Ruislip Musical Society was officially established.
April 1925 marked a momentous occasion as the Society made its first ever public performance, a concert version of Merrie England, performed in the Wesleyan Church Hall on Ickenham Road, Ruislip. The handbills advertising the show stated that the Society had "spared no pains to do justice to the Opera and hopes it will be the first of many successes.". With Mr R. E. Humphriss at the reins of production and musical direction, the show was an absolute success. Pre-box office demand was strong from the beginning and the show sold well. The Society's presence in the local community was firmly established.
The Society's first full show was Iolanthe, performed at Ickenham Village Hall in 1927. One review said “It was a bold step for the Ruislip and District Musical and Dramatic Society to take up opera in complete array, but boldness has justified itself. They produced Gilbert and Sullivan's ‘lolanthe’ at the Ickenham Parish Hall last week with a degree of success that was startling to the natives, who so usually deprecate local talent, as it was also to those visitors who imagine that the towns enjoy a monopoly of talent.”.
MERCHANDISE
We're always on the lookout for talented individuals to join our team, welcoming all those interested in getting involved to develop and showcase their skills - be it on stage or behind the scenes. Aside from working hard to produce shows, we also connect with one another regularly at various social events.
All of our members are involved in many aspects of show production: performing, set build, lighting, sound, props, costumes, direction, choreography, front-of-house and more. Together, we work closely as one team with strong community values and pride ourselves on being a warm and welcoming Society, providing a safe and nurturing environment for all of our members to enjoy.
Find out more about our different types of Membership and Volunteering below.
GET INVOLVED
PERFORMING MEMBERS
Love performing? We are always on the lookout for people who share a similar passion for all things singing, dancing and acting to join us.