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Home Past Times

Gallery: Putting Pro Arte in the spotlight

By Callum Main
1992: Members of the cast of the pro Arte production of Carmen – the Musical gave visitors to the Bon Accord Centre a taste of what they will be missing if they do not find time to attend the show’s North-East premier at Aberdeen Arts Centre this week.
1992: Members of the cast of the pro Arte production of Carmen – the Musical gave visitors to the Bon Accord Centre a taste of what they will be missing if they do not find time to attend the show’s North-East premier at Aberdeen Arts Centre this week.

This week’s Aberdonian focuses on Pro Arte theatre group.

The group was one of Aberdeen’s longest established amateur theatre companies, with a history going back over 40 years.

1992: Members of the cast of the pro Arte production of Carmen – the Musical gave visitors to the Bon Accord Centre a taste of what they will be missing if they do not find time to attend the show’s North-East premier at Aberdeen Arts Centre this week.
1990: Some of the cast ready to start the Pro Arte cabaret. Back (left to right): Gill Johnston, Alice Gall and Maureen Buchan. Middle: Tricia Miller, Gaynor O’Neill and Betty Davie. At the front is Hilary Esson.
1985: Performers from The Best of Both Worlds, which is being staged at Aberdeen College of Commerce by Pro Arte this week, take the stage for a souvenir picture. Serenading the Gipsy Princess (Margaret Robertson, Aberdeen) and the Gipsy Baron (Ian Middler, Aberdeen) is Tricia Shand, Buckle, while looking on (left to right) are Norman McDonald, Frances Wregg, Sheena Hunter, Betty Davie and Eric Coutts, all Aberdeen.
1985: Special guest Jimmy Spankie was first on the dance floor with not one but two of the committee, (left) Linda Smith (Chairwoman) and (right) Betty Scorgie the social convener at the Pro Arte St Andrews evening.
1988: Members of the Light Opera Company Pro Arte cut their Birthday cake to celebrate 20 years of Musical Entertainment. Past and present members joined in a dinner and dance in the Amatola Hotel, Aberdeen on Saturday evening. The company has performed many well known shows over the years, including Merry Widow, Waltzes from Vienna and his year's showt he New Moon pictured cutting the cake is Musical Director Mrs Kathleen Stuart.
1980: Man - this could be your big chance to be a singing or dancing star. The Aberdeen company Pro Arte are staging the musical Cabaret in the Beach Ballroom in November, but they have a problem - their membership has dropped to 30, including nine men. They hope to get back up to 50 shortly, but they are especially looking for more male singers and dancers. So, come on chaps, if you can sing or dance a bit, get in touch with chairman Tom Clarkson, at Aberdeen 322292. Our picture shows (left to right) Tom Clarkson, Ian MacNay, Norman McDonald and Eric Coutts outnumbered nearly three to one at rehearsals.
1992: Spanish Smiles: Kerry Donald and John Fitzsimmons star in Carmen the Musical, presented by city theatre group Pro Arte, which begins a five-night run tomorrow in the Arts Centre, King Street, Aberdeen at 7.45pm.
1990: Roz Ellis who plays the fortune teller in the Pro Arte production of the Jerome Kern musical Showboat at the Arts Centre, Aberdeen, from tonight until Saturday predicts an evening of magic for all who come to watch.
1987: ready for their forthcoming winter of rehearsals for The New Moon by Sigmund Romberg are members of Pro Arte with pianist Mr Leslie Bodie, their new associate musical director Mr Locke Nicholson (left) and musical director Mrs Kathleen Stuart (second left). The company have grown to about 50 members in recent years. ‘’We realised that another person was required to concentrate on the musical direction of principal parts,’’ said chairman Mr Bill Stuart. ‘’We are very pleased to secure the services of Locke Nicholson. Mr Nicholson is the former principal teacher of music at Summerhill Academy and is well known in North-East music circles. He is a trustee of the International Youth Festival and is chairman of Deeside Choristers.
1987: The Pro-Arte Singers, who are staging Waltzes from Vienna in Aberdeen Arts Centre from April 28, decided that to get the right feel for the opening scene set in a confectionary shop/café in Vienna, they should sample some of the delights on offer in Nova, Rose Street. There, chocolate shop girl Linda Smith (centre) decided that the cast (left to right) Eric Coutts, Ian Middler, Sue Chalmers, Marjory Robb, Hilary Esson and Stewart Smith thought everything would be just a piece of cake!
1988: Getting into shape for their next production, Magyar Melody, are three members of Pro Arte with Alan Nicol (second left) doing the coaching on stagecraft. They are (from left to right) Maureen Buchan, Roz Ellis and Michael Newns. The new session started with a workshop in Hanover Street School, Aberdeen, and publicity convener Douglas Nisbet said that as a musical company they required to develop skills in drama and were fortunate that Alan Nicol assisted with this project. Mr Nisbet said there were still some vacancies for singers in the production, due to be staged in the spring, and anyone interested should attend on Monday nights at 7.30 or contact Eric Coutts, 39 Justice Street, Aberdeen
1987: Leading off the dancers in the Pro Arte production of Waltzes of Vienna, being staged at the Aberdeen Arts Centre this week, are Kerry Donald as Lina and Desmond Chrystal as Johan.
1992 Marianne Inkson, left, and Kerry Donald of Pro Arte Opera Group which is on the look-out for male members.
1989: Romance is in the air when Pro Arte stage the musical Magyar Melody in the Arts Centre theatre, King Street, for five nights from Tuesday. Here, three members of the cast, Karin Stuart, Eric Coutts (left) and Ron Barclay, show off the bright folk costumes which are a feature of the production.
1988: Some of the cast of Pro Arte Theatre Group's production of Sigmund Romberg's musical romance, The New Moon, pose outside Aberdeen Arts Centre where Romberg's sequel to The desert Song will be performed from tomorrow until Saturday. From left: Heather Brown, Alice Kriger, Kerry Donald, Linda Neil, Alison Main and Dianne Bannerman. All are from Aberdeen except Kerry who is from Oldmeldrum.
1988: The lucky fellow surrounded by these lovely lasses is secretary and founder member of Pro Arte, Eric Coutts, who with (left to right), Linda Smith, Sheena Cushnie, Geraldine McCann and Caroline Roots) are all set for anniversary celebrations when they take the stage at Aberdeen Arts Centre next week for their production of The New Moon.
1993: The champagne is flowing as Pro Arte members (clockwise from left) Gill Johnston, Des Chrystal, Marianne Inkson and Edi Hutchison prepare for their production of La Vie Parisienne, which is at the Arts Centre this evening with performances nightly until Saturday.

This article originally appeared on the Evening Express website. For more information, read about our new combined website.