Wizard of Oz opened in 1993 with a gala performance at the Coronation Hall by Ulverston Operatic Society in aid of St Mary’s Hospice.

Producer/director Elaine Parkinson, a long-serving performer for the company, turned to production for the first time and managed it admirably, with a show full of bold colour, life and special effects.

Rebecca Burch handled the part of Dorothy with clarity and effect and also proved herself a competent dog handler as Toto (Scamp Jewell) occasionally sought to steal a scene.

Russ Palmer, Allan Lewis and Robert Ellis were authentic as the cowardly lion, tinman and scarecrow and Sue Little was powerful as the witch.

Bob Munro, the society’s regular producer, was on stage for a change as the Wizard. Liz Waller was musical director.

In 1994 Ulverston Operatic Society staged My Fair Lady at the Coronation Hall.

The popular musical was directed by Elaine Parkinson.

Eliza Doolittle was played by Rebecca Burch, who also took the part of Dorothy in Wizard of Oz. She had switched from a Mid West American accent to a broad cockney for My Fair Lady.

Neil Metcalf played the cool Henry Higgins and Allan Lewis was Colonel Pickering, who put up the cash to turn the flower girl into a duchess.

In 1999 Barrow’s Abbey Musical Society performed the Rogers and Hammerstein musical State Fair at Forum 28.

Set in the 1950s it tells the story of an Iowa family who take a few days' holiday from their farm to go to the State Fair.

Abel and Melissa Frake and their two grown-up children Margie and Wayne are hoping to win prizes but they learn a few timely lessons about life too.

Colin Smith, who also directed, and Jean Conlong played Abel and Melissa and Grant Butcher and Camille Maalawy played Wayne and Margie.

Wayne falls for cabaret singer Emily Ardon, played by Tracie Roberts (nee Mitchell) and Margie becomes involved with newspaper reporter Pat Gilbert, played by Neil Irvine.