Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Finchley & Friern Barnet Operatic Society (From Times Series)

Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Finchley & Friern Barnet Operatic Society

9:43am Thursday 23rd August 2012 in Theatre By Rosy Moorhead

George V was on the throne, Mussolini became Italian premier, the USSR came into being, the BBC started broadcasting, James Joyce’s Ulysses was published and Mars Bars first appeared on the market. There was a lot going on in the world in 1922 and that year also saw the birth of the Finchley & Friern Barnet Operatic Society (FFBOS).

To celebrate their 90th birthday, FFBOS is bringing the Book of Genesis to the stage in the exciting musical Children of Eden .

Telling the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel and Noah, it’s a musical by the creator of West End hit Wicked , Stephen Schwartz.

In another first, the society is performing the show at the Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar – a move from its long-time home at Millfield Theatre in Edmonton.

“The first act is about Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel,” says director and choreographer Clarie Protopapa, “and the second act is about Noah. But it’s quite loosely based on the stories and we’ve set it in modern day New York, with the animals being represented as people, as New Yorkers. So for example, we’ve got polar bears who are posh ladies on a day out, that sort of thing.

“Children of Eden hasn’t been done in this area before and it’s very modern, very catchy – I love it, so when it became available we jumped on it. It’s a bit different, too, it’s not your standard, run-of-the-mill show that everybody knows but it’s one that everybody will really enjoy.

The show’s storyline also resonates with the society’s chosen charity, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet, which will receive a percentage of proceeds from the shows. “The children are always quite excited to see our shows,” says Claire, “but I think they’re extra excited that this one’s got Noah in it.”

• Children of Eden is at Wyllyotts Theatre, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar from Tuesday, September 4 until Saturday, September 8 at 7.45pm, with a matinee on Saturday, September 8 at 3pm. Details: 01707 645 005, www.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk