THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Alan Barrett as Major Murgatroyd in Patience

Alan Barrett (1956-63)

[Born Leeds 7 Apr 1932, died Bath 24 Aug 2019]

Alan Barrett joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company as a baritone chorister in May 1956, making occasional appearances as Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance during his first season. In July 1957 he assumed the non-speaking part of the Associate in Trial by Jury, a role he would retain throughout his D'Oyly Carte service, except for brief periods in January, March, and April 1959 when he filled in for John Reed as the Learned Judge. In May (upon Peter Pratt's departure) Reed yielded Major Murgatroyd in Patience to Mr. Barrett.

Barrett played the Major for the next two seasons (1959-61), until it was taken over by John Cartier at the start of the 1961-62 seasons. During his last two seasons with the D'Oyly Carte, Barrett appeared regularly as the Associate and on occasion as the Judge and Samuel. He left the Company in August 1963.

Alan Barrett was married to principal soprano Mary Sansom. On leaving the D'Oyly Carte, he and his wife formed the theatrical costumiers "Barretts of Bath," a firm specializing in outfitting amateur operatic societies.

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