Last updated 10:55, Friday, 15 February 2008

BARNUM, Maryport Amateur Operatic Society’s musical, marks the end of two eras.

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It will be the last show to be held in the town’s civic hall and will also be the last show for Jean Davidson, who joined the society 60 years ago.

She was a shy girl of 17 when she and twin sister, Josephine, went down to the Golden Lion to join up. They got to the door and were too nervous to go in. They went home and their father took them down.

Since then, Jean has been involved in each of the 60 annual shows and missed being on stage for only one of those.

She was rehearsing for Viva Mexico in 1973 when her mother, then aged 79, was knocked down by a car as she was crossing the road on Curzon Street.

“She suffered terrible injuries - two broken legs and ankles, a broken arm and her face was smashed. I had to pull out of the show that year.”

Joining the society was almost inevitable. Her father, Jack, was in the orchestra and worked on wardrobe. Brother Jack was in wardrobe and props.

Her niece, Josephine Hills, joined the society as a playing member and was ticket secretary before Jean herself took over. Her great-niece, Caroline Briscoe, is now in wardrobe and make-up.

Jean’s mother was a dressmaker and if anything had to be altered once the society got its costumes, they would be sent home with Jack to be fixed.

But while it was inevitable that the girls would try to join the society it was not a given that they would be accepted.

“In those days you couldn’t just go along as we do now. You had to be introduced by a member and then do an audition. I think I sang scales or something.”

Jean’s sister got married after a little while and then, 45 years ago, moved to Australia.

Jean remained in Maryport and with the society.

She probably has less reason than anyone else in the society to worry about the loss of the civic hall because she has been through it all before.

When she joined the society it held its shows in the Golden Lion. It then moved to the Empire Theatre, where Nicholson’s Butchers is on Senhouse Street.

“I remember when the Empire closed. We just got told that it was being sold and to move our stuff out. It was an awful shock.”

The society moved to Netherhall School and then to the civic hall when it was built.

“I don’t want to comment on the hall at Destination Maryport until I’ve seen it, but we have seen change before,” she said.

Although often content to be in the chorus, Jean has played significant roles in several shows - too many to mention, she said.

She has worked with at least 10 directors and coincidentally, David Marcus, who is directing Barnum, also directed the show which marked her 40th anniversary.

She became assistant treasurer in 1965 and treasurer in 1972 - a position she has held ever since. She has also been ticket secretary for the past nine years.

She is retiring from the society this year “because you have to do it sometime.”

But she’ll still be keeping a close eye on future productions, no matter how much she will miss being on stage. And she will not be leaving altogether.

“I hope they continue the carol concerts at Christmas. I would still like to be involved in those.”

Jean will be taking her final bow when Barnum closes next month. She and the civic hall will both reach the end of their careers.