| Administrative History | The inaugural meeting of the Derby Amateur Operatic Society was held in January 1891 with the first production, Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Pirates of Penzance' performed in April. Later that year another group, the Derby Lyric Opera Company, was founded with their first production, 'Princess Ida', performed in January 1892. The two groups merged in 1896 and performed their first show, Offenbach's 'Grand Duchess', in spring 1897 at the Grand Theatre on Babington Lane. The society finally adopted the name Derby Opera Company in 1914.
The company's final performance at the Grand Theatre was 'Lilac Domino' in 1950. Performances continued at The Hippodrome on Green Lane until 1958, then at the Gaumont Cinema on London Road, and from the 1970s the Derby Playhouse and Assembly Rooms were both used.
The company closed in 2012 due to financial losses and a lack of volunteers. |
| Custodial History | These records were donated to Derbyshire Record Office in September 2014 by the son of the previous custodian. A further donation was received from a different member of the public in February 2022. Further programmes and photographs were donated by a third member of the public in November 2023. |