Circle Of Life

For Teesdale Operatic Society it is fair to say it has been a rocky 12 months, with no productions since their stunning Sound of Music back in 2024. After some big resets they began their new era touring 4 villages and towns in the County Durham area with an aptly named Circle of Life Cabaret Concert.

Taking a production on the road throws up many challenges and it was a sensible option to really strip back the production in terms of set, scenery and costumes as it allowed a smooth transition between venues. What this also allowed was the real strength of this society, vocals and performance to shine. A simple black back cloth, freestanding microphones and basic yet effective lighting set the stage for a lovely evening of some quite sensational singing from the Society.

The biggest problem was how to squeeze all of the talent in and the stage at times did appear a little bit squished limiting how much movement could go into the big numbers but listening to the sound it was impossible to leave anyone behind.With a cast size of almost 40 members Musical Director Annette Butters did a magnificent job of not only bringing together this huge group of vocalists, balancing the sound really well and orchestrating some sensational harmonies. 

Within the group it was great to see a lot of original members of TOS working alongside many new members and some brilliant Juniors in the Society. The quality was strong across all groups with experience shining through alongside some real raw talent.

Compere for the evening was the very charismatic Ethan Fletcher who not only gave us an interesting insight into each musical number but also interacted with each performer. Some good ad-libbing and clever script creating a good flow between each section.

As I previously mentioned the harmonies were one thing that really shone in this production. Being slightly light on male vocalists, the females had a lot of work to do and the sound was delightful. The opening number, When I Grow Up really set the tone for the evening. 4 of the Juniors took the lead before being joined by the full ensemble. This lovely balance of harmony work would then continue with a small ensemble of mixed ages showcasing a well controlled You Will Be Found demonstrating a real understanding of the complexity of the piece and the meaning behind the lyrics.

The evening would often have solo parts being joined by the huge ensemble with great impact. Andy Moorhouse really brought the stage to life with his solo of I’m Getting Married In The Morning backed up by the chorus. Sarah Gent brought her character to life with her entourage of women in I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair, the poor men being manhandled and forced off stage with real intent. The blockbuster ensemble number for me was 9-5 with great vocals mixed well with 40 line dancers packed on the stage.

The majority of the night belonged to either solos, duets or small groups performing some well known hits from the musicals and although impossible to name them all there were some real highlights. 

Sim Ward has really grown in confidence, his characterisation and vocals in Herod’s Song really commanding the stage. Gail Barlow proved just what a seasoned pro she is with the funniest song of the evening, a new to me song “Keep My Love Alive” from A Connecticut Yankee. Her beautiful Jazz style tone shone through as she told the story of killing all of her husbands with such warmth and style. A beautiful example of story telling through song and despite having never heard it before, every word sounded familiar.. Men beware! Isobel Harvey brought some real passion to With You from Ghost. Jane O’Byrne-West brought the glamour with I am What I am combining great Boa choreography alongside a lovely deep vibrato and power house vocals. Joanne Wall, Seonaid Walker-Jones, Jill McLachlan and Mackenzie Kellett are shone in their solo numbers whilst Karen Davison brought some excellent comedy timing to her version of U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.

There was so much humour put into certain numbers which stopped this from being just a static concert and it’s clear that many members have been honing their acting skills over the years. 4 Original TOS members combined to become the Fagin Four with a lively and entertaining twist on the number Reviewing The Situation.

The two really standout numbers of the evening however belonged to younger members of the Society. Kirsty McLachlan gave us a spine tingling original version of Falling In Love, the Elvis Hit. Not only did she make the song her own with little twists and turns here and there but the vocals were soulful and had real depth. Combined with her excellent guitar skills she had the audience almost in a trance such was the quality of the performance.

For me however the number of the night was from Guys and Dolls, I’ll Know, performed by two amazing young vocalists Teri Smith and Chloe Hanks. Teri had this lovely soulful quality to her voice really giving the number some power without it feeling forced whilst Chloe delivered the most natural and genuine Operatic quality to her sections of this duet. Her range was off the scale with no sign of any notes cracking, the vibrato was sharp and controlled and her diction perfect. Definitely one to watch for the future here if she is this good at just 15!

The evening rightly finished with a full choral version of the Broadway Hit Circle of Life finishing the night just how it had started. Powerful vocals, all well balanced together with Altos, Sopranos and Baritone lines all clearly identifiable. 

Thank you to everyone involved from the Production team to the lovely front of house members. The whole evening, from Cabaret style seating, great performances and a lovely get-together with you all at the end a true reminder of why all the hard work is worth it. Very exciting to see what is next in the planning but based on the enthusiasm, energy and commitment from the members the future is certainly looking bright for TOS.

 

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