Lakeshore Light Opera

In 1955, a few members of the Men’s Club of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Lachine, in conjunction with the Church Choir, decided to present Gilbert &Sullivan’s “Trial by Jury” to the Montreal public. The production was so well received, a permanent operatic society was formed dedicated to productions of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas in the traditional manner.

St. Pauls’ Operatic Society was born in 1957. The first Music Director was Arthur Gough, the Church organist, and the first Stage Director was Doris Norris formerly of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company (London). She and her husband, Harry, were already well known to Montreal Gilbert & Sullivan audiences through their association with the Lyric Opera Company, Montreal West Operatic Society and various other musical groups. In 1969 and 1970, we branched away from Gilbert & Sullivan and presented “Merrie England” and “The Geisha” but in 1971, we returned to the productions of the Savoy operas and there we have remained.