Ian Gledhill will talk on ‘Glamorous Nights: Musical Theatre Between The Wars’ for the Arts Society Bishop’s Stortford

Musical theatre between the world wars is the subject of October’s meeting of The Arts Society Bishop’s Stortford.

Each month, member Mick Fitch reviews the previous talk and looks forward to the next subject for Indie readers.

On Tuesday October 14, Ian Gledhill will lecture on “Glamorous Nights: Musical Theatre Between The Wars”.

Mick writes: “Ian’s lecture follows the superb lecture in September by Clare Ford-Wille on ‘Dutch Paintings of Everyday Life from Hals to Vermeer’, which also included paintings by female artists such as Judith Leyster, Catharina van Hemessen and others, little known until recently, but now receiving the recognition to which they are due.

“Ian began as an engineer, designing extensions to the London Underground, but has since spent most of his working life in the theatre, mostly in opera and musical theatre as a director, set designer and opera translator.

“His talk takes up the story of British musical theatre during the First World War, with wartime hits such as Chu Chin Chow and The Maid of the Mountains.

“Then, in the 1920s and 30s, British theatre was influenced by imported shows from America like The Student Prince and No, No, Nanette, leading to the successful careers of Noel Coward and Ivor Novello. The talk will be illustrated with musical examples and pictures on the screen.”

The Arts Society Bishop’s Stortford, founded in 1976, meets monthly at South Mill Arts on the second Tuesday of the month, with coffee from 10am. The lecture starts at 10.40am. Visitors are welcome to attend for a suggested £7 donation. To find out more, see info@tasbs.org.uk.