I fell in love with Manchester when I came for my University admissions interview. It had been exciting to travel up by train from the farthest reaches of East Anglia, well Peterborough anyway.

I’d heard all the stories about how Manchester had a permanent black cloud tethered to it by a large and grime-ridden piece of string. All the buildings would be covered with soot and bits of miners Black Lung as the matchstick men and women coughed through the fogs to buy themselves their chippy teas, with a big strong mug of tea to wash it down.

Did I believe those stories? Of course not, well maybe a little…

Yet, when I arrived at Piccadilly station I discovered that the sun that had been threatening to smile weakly over my explorations had burst through into glorious warmth through a cloudless blue sky. I walked the relatively short distance (or so it seemed in those days) from the station, through UMIST to Manchester University’s Chemistry department. There I found myself with hundreds of other hopeful candidates for a Chemistry degree. We all trooped into the largest lecture theatre and were addressed by the admissions tutor who pointed out that statistically we’d all die one day! Cheerful, or what?

Everyone I met seemed just as excited as me and very friendly. And this was a prestigious course and the best Chemistry course after Oxford and Cambridge so everyone was keen to get in.

When we eventually finished our interviews the sun was still shining gently down on us and the clear blue skies were all around. I’d seen the sun rays glance off the station, UMIST’s massive buildings, The Refuge building along Oxford road and Manchester Town Hall nestled in Albert Square. All seemed right with the world and I knew then as I boarded the train back home that I would return.

Little did I know then that with the degree course I would discover the delights of student societies, student parties, Tommy Ducks, The Salisbury, Studios 1-5 and halls of residence!

The Royal Northern College of Music fairly shook with the loud cheers and applause as we finished our final performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe on Saturday night.

We’d struggled to sell tickets again this year. And that’s despite a pretty high standard, semi-pro orchestra, great RNCM bar and a fun time for all!

The RNCM theatre is excellent, although as none of us have operatic voices the sound can drop slightly for the audience if we get too far back on the stage.

The cast had a fantastic time which is part of being in this sort of show. However, we also had some great audiences who appreciated the show and who in turn we appreciated.

Some years, in fact quite some years, ago we actually use to sell out quite a few of the nights. Then for some reason we started not selling out completely. So we dropped our first night (Monday) as we had very few people coming to the show compared to the other nights. Then we dropped our first night again (Tuesday), presumably for the same reason. I’m not convinced that was a good idea as we’re paying for the theatre anyway so we really ought to try and sell tickets.

Having been publicity manager for the society on one occasion I know it can be difficult to get coverage. As the Manchester Evening News said there are plenty of professional productions that they review, trying to review the am-dram shows would be impossible. Similarly a different local newspaper was totally unimpressed with the fact that some of their local students were in the show.

I talked to an expert on PR (Rob Baker) after he’d seen one of the shows during the week. He told me he couldn’t believe how professional it was. He also was of the opinion that we should be able to get publicity. He suggested one or two strategies which we’ve applied in the past with results and I’m baffled as to why we didn’t continue with them.

After months of rehearsal and working Thursdays and Sundays for quite a while the show has come together at last. As usual we seem to not get the knack of a particular dance step until we’ve had it drummed into our brains 11 million times.

Anyway, now we’ve a show on our hands and I’m really looking forward to going into the Royal Northern College of Music for our second major production.

The company have already performed a Rock version of Trial By Jury and, unusually, last November Bugsy Malone. Unusually because we’ve done Gilbert & Sullivan ever since I started as a member back in the 1970’s.

We’ve not seen the set yet, that will be on Monday when everything is brought into the theatre. According to one of the directors they’ve actually produced some set that took a long time to build and which is only on stage for a few minutes.

Apparently we’ve got a good orchestra, I’ll know more on Sunday when the whole company sings with them for the first time. The orchestra having rehearsed with Justin Morley our musical director.

Breaking with tradition we’ve had a pair of directors directing us this year. I must say I’ve been impressed that they’ve not (apparently) lost their tempers with each other, or with the cast.

Anyway, it’s going to be a fun show, after all fairies, peers and the House Of Lords, who could ask for more intrigue or opportunity to see some fun antics!?

You can buy your tickets online via the RNCM or via a variety of other ways through the MUGSS website for the show which starts next Tuesday 30th April 2008.

I commend the show to the house…

After putting on Bugsy Malone in November Manchester University Gilbert & Sullivan Society (MUGSS) is swooping back into it’s true vocation Gilbert & Sullivan.

And putting on Iolanthe with a twist. Again at the Royal Northern College of Music in April.

Of course, it wouldn’t be MUGSS without a bit of a twist to the way the ever popular Victorian duo Gilbert & Sullivan’s shows are directed.

This time there’s a sixties influence and also a stick routine with the peers.

What does it mean?

Don’t ask me I’ve just started rehearsal this week, so I’m probably as clueless as you.

That said, I’m looking forward to the show and it seems like it’s going to be the usual load of fun.

You can sign up for more information at the MUGSS audience list

I’m serious.

Let’s get Manchester onto the board of the World Monopoly game.

Go to the Monopoly Site and nominate Manchester (UK) to get onto the board. Be careful because the USA has a few Manchester’s too.

Manchester’s not on the shortlist but when enough of us nominate it we’ve got a chance of being one of two wild card cities that will be added onto the board.

After all we’ve Manchester United and Manchester City, both of which have huge following around the Uk. And Manchester United has a vast army around the world. So all you United and City fans getting voting.

Also all you Manchester University, Manchester Metropolitan University and UMIST graduates vote! Come on click on over to the Monopoly Site now, get registered and vote.

And everyone from around Greater Manchester too - just click on over to the Monopoly Site and nominate Manchester.

By the way the site has a pile of Monopoly trivia, including the total number of green houses built and how the sets were used during World War II to help escaping soldiers.