Drama society to take final bow after 70 years

The society has been putting on performances, like this one in 1957, for 70 years

A drama society in Leicester is preparing to perform its final run of shows after 70 years.

The Infirmary Dramatic Operatic and Literary Society - also known as the Idols - was originally set up by doctors and nurses at the Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) in 1955.

The society has produced a range of musical shows since and estimates more than 2,000 people, including The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey, have taken part in productions since.

However, the group has decided to take its final bow, citing financial reasons, including increasing production costs, and will perform for the last time on Saturday when a four-day run at the Little Theatre in Leicester draws to a close.

Game of Thrones star Bella Ramsey took to the stage in show put on by the Idols in 2012

The first show put on by the Idols was The Pirates of Penzance in 1955, with 39 people in the cast and 21 musicians in the orchestra.

The cost of the production was £90 and was covered by the LRI, the society said.

Ian Phillips, president of the Idols, said the total production costs of the society's upcoming shows - performances of the musical Come from Away - were just over £33,000.

The society needs to sell 85% of tickets to break even, he added.

Ian Phillips, president of the Idols, wants the society to "go out with a bang"

Speaking about the decision to bring the society to an end, Mr Phillips, who joined the Idols in 1971, said: "It's partly financial.

"The show costs a lot of money to put on and there aren't the people coming forward who want to support and back the show.

"Also the membership has become much more transient so it's much harder to have a nucleus of members, so we thought if we're going to go out, go out on the 70th year with a bang."

Mr Phillips also said that, while people still wanted to come to performances, there had been an increasing tendency to book tickets late, making it harder for the society to plan budgets.

Clare Snow joined the Idols in 1984 and said she had made "lifelong friends"

Over the years the number of medics taking part reduced but the society kept its links with the hospital.

Clare Snow joined the Idols in 1984 and worked as a cardiac physiologist until September 2021.

She said: "It's been there for me - I've got so many friends that I've met through this, that I meet outside of the society.

"We might go to the theatre ourselves to watch something.

"They're lifelong friends for me now and I really value that as much as anything."

Carl Pearce has been a society member since 1966

Carl Pearce joined the Idols 59 years ago and is the longest serving member of the society.

He started as an actor before moving into backstage roles and is the stage manager for the society's final run of shows.

Reflecting on the decision to close the Idols, Mr Pearce said: "I think it's really sad.

"It doesn't give the opportunity to youngsters to perform in a real theatre to a more than amateur standard, that's the sad thing about the demise of all societies."

However, Mr Pearce thinks it is an achievement for the Idols to have existed for so long.

"I don't think there's many societies up and down the country that can better the 70 years that Idols have survived," he added.

The society's final run of shows will start at the Little Theatre in Leicester on Tuesday.