Island Savoyards' 50 years of performances at Shanklin Theatre

Some people's memories were longer than others of course, but the evening showcased the very best of the popular theatre group, which founded in 1971.

Special mention must go to two Savoyards stalwarts who have dedicated 50 years to the company.

Sheelah Stephens has been secretary all that time, and was one of the founder members.

Jill Legg has acted as treasurer since joining in 1971.

Both women are looking to step down this year after half a century of devotion each, so Saturday was an emotional occasion for them.

Jill Legg and Sheelah Stephens were with Island Savoyards from the start in 1971! Here they are with County Press reviews from that year.

Sheelah reminisced that tickets to the first show, The Mikado, cost 30p for a standard seat.

All the shows have been performed at Shanklin Theatre, very much home to the group.

Sheelah said: "Probably the biggest change came in 2011 when we got a bit tired and creaky and membership was slipping.

"Andrew Woodford said we needed young people and they wanted musicals rather than Gilbert and Sullivan, and that change paid off."

A special award went to Tony Martin who has played clarinet, bass clarinet, and bari sax in the orchestra with the Savoyards for 46 years.

Saturday night was a riot of colour, costume and characters.

It kicked off with scenes from The Mikado performed by Andrew Wilson-Jenner and Mike Palette, both in fine clear voice.

Harley Mackness's outstanding performances in Evita and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat reminded us what a shining star she is — a true asset to the Savoyards.

Her duet with Emily Scotcher put the two powerhouses together on stage and blew everyone away.

Ashleigh Mackness took on arguably one of the toughest challenges to put on an incredible performance of The Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus, which tested her acting skills as well as vocal acrobatics and left us all exhausted just watching.

The Potts family from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang reunited in fine harmony — a great performance by Luke Cumberpatch, Emily Scotcher, George Sales and Ellen Careless. They had hardly any rehearsal time but their voices fitted back together again perfectly.

Emily Scotcher, Luke Cumberpatch, George Sales and Ellen Careless in their original performance.

A touching moment came when Abbie Revert and Nathan Stubbings (who in their spare time are CP theatre reviewers themselves) united on stage to perform Long Ago and Half a Sixpence from Kipps Half a Sixpence.

It was a show that despite being ready for the stage in March 2020 never had an audience due to the Covid pandemic, to great disappointment.

Display showing "the one that got away"

It was lovely that everyone got a moment to shine again on Saturday and brilliant to see the orchestra given prominence on stage too. After all, where would Island Savoyards be without their musicians?!

The Mikado cast in 1971.