THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Alan Spencer

Alan Spencer (1974-80)

[Born Friern Barnet, North London, c.1947, died Spain 28 May 2019]

While in college, Alan Spencer was involved in amateur operatics and performed for a time with a professional dancing group. He then became a math teacher, took lessons in ballet and tap and formed his own dance group. After a brief stretch in the Welsh National Opera chorus, another with the touring Black and White Minstrels, and some work as a dancer on television and as a film extra, he was engaged by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company as a chorister in July 1974.

He performed with the Company for the next six years, appearing as a dancer in the 1975 Centenary production of Utopia Limited, and filling in from time to time as First Yeoman (1974-75), Leonard Meryll (1976-77), First Citizen and Second Citizen (both 1979-80) in The Yeomen of the Guard, and Francesco in The Gondoliers (1976-78). In October 1979 Spencer took over the part of Antonio in The Gondoliers, no doubt to perform a new dance with "The Merriest Fellows Are We."

In August 1980 Spencer left the stage, but stayed with the Company as production assistant and choreographer. He remained with the D'Oyly Carte as choreographer until its last night in February 1982.

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