THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Kathleen West

Kathleen West (1952-56)

Soprano Kathleen West studied at the Royal College of Music before gaining her first professional experience as a chorister with the Glyndebourne Festival Opera. She joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company chorus in September 1952. During her four seasons with the Company she appeared regularly as the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury (1953-56) and filled in on occasion for principal soprano Muriel Harding as Elsie Maynard in The Yeomen of the Guard (1953-54 and 1955-56), Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, and Princess Ida in Princess Ida (all 1955-56). She left the D'Oyly Carte organization in April 1956.

Miss West eventually moved to North America, where she appeared in theatres and recital in both Canada and the United States. Currently based in Vancouver, British Columbia, she has lately appeared in that city at the Chemainus Theatre in It's a Wonderful Life, An L. M. Montgomery Christmas, The Sound of Music, and as Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream. In November 2003 she performed at the Chemainus in an evening of song and acting, Kathleen West and Friends, performing popular favorites from the worlds of Gilbert & Sullivan, Noel Coward, British Music Hall, and American musical theatre. In the summer of 2004 Miss West returns to Chemainus to play Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance.

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