Exeter Musical Society present
Carousel
by Rodgers & Hammerstein
Exeter Musical Society return with the hit Broadway musical Carousel, written by the powerhouse team of Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Set in a small coastal town in Maine at the turn of the 20th Century, Carousel explores the tragic romance between a troubled carnival worker and the young woman who gives up everything for her love for him. Elevated to an epic scale with a sweeping classic musical score, this story of passion, loss and redemption introduced Broadway to a new manner of musical drama — one that “set the standard for the 20th century musical” (Time Magazine) and would captivate theatregoers for generations to come.
Featuring classic songs such as If I Loved You, June Is Bustin’ Out All Over and of course, the epic anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone, Carousel is firmly regarded as a musical theatre masterpiece.
Exeter Musical Society, formerly Exeter Amateur Operatic Society, is the oldest amateur musical society in Exeter having been formed in 1904. The Society staged its first production. The Pirates of Penzance, at the Royal Public Rooms in 1905. Later the same year the Society moved to the Theatre Royal in Longbrook Street to present a second show, HMS Pinafore.
Apart from the years of the two World Wars the society has produced at least one show annually.
In 1962, the society was given the news that the Theatre Royal was to close, and a new home would be required. For the next two years productions continued at St George’s Hall (now named the Corn Exchange). The society later moved to the ABC Cinema which after a while proved difficult. In 1967 with funding from local entrepreneur George Northcott and the University of Exeter a new purpose-built theatre was opened on its campus. Appropriately named The Northcott Theatre. In 1969 the Society staged The Gondoliers at the Northcott. Then went back to the ABC until it was closed for demolition. So, the society returned to the Northcott Theatre in 1973 which from then on and to this day has become our permanent home. In 2009 Exeter Amateur Operatic Society decided to change its name to Exeter Musical Society to reflect its more modern repertoire.
Northcott Theatre
