THE words amateur dramatics conjure up a variety of images, few of them flattering, which usually involve draughty village halls, variable singing skills and shaky stage sets.

But a York group of accomplished amateur performers continues to dispel that myth as they celebrate their society's 100th successful year.

In 1902, when theatres were widely regarded as bawdy houses of ill repute, a group of enthusiastic performers joined forces to create the York Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society.

The committee met in a small room over the drapers shop of Messrs Makin and Dean in Parliament Street to prepare for their first performance, Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, in April 1903.

That show took to the stage of the Festival Concert Rooms, behind the Assembly Rooms.

Surviving posters and programmes from the inaugural performance show that the three-night run was in aid of York County Hospital and the concert rooms were perfumed with Fragrant Old English Mitcham Lavender Water by sponsors G.Coverdale chemists.

The society has performed continuously since then, bar the war years, and has survived in the increasingly competitive world of entertainment.

Shows such as The Mikado, Show Boat, Annie Get Your Gun, The King And I and Oklahoma have all graced the stage in York, the most recent being the centenary performance of My Fair Lady.

The colourful story of YAODS is charted in a new book called Memories By The Score, which is written by Helen Mackman, printed by Media Machine Design and costs £6.99.

The book contains photographs and anecdotes from past and present members, although the early years of the society remain wrapped in mystery because records were destroyed in 1942 during the bombing of York.

What we do know is that following its first presentation, performances by the society were staged at York Theatre Royal, an association that continues to this day. However, the move did cause initial problems because some of the company's religious beliefs prohibited performing in a professional theatre as it was considered a den of sin.

Jim Welsman, chairman of YAODS, describes how attitudes have changed. He said: "Historically the theatre was always looked on as bawdy and riotous and unpleasant. The ladies on the stage were seen by some as one up from prostitutes - that was the view then.

"But joining an operatic society was quite prestigious. Around the city, certainly in the early days, ladies would wear hats and gloves to rehearsals to retain some of their dignity. It was much more formal back then.

"And the society turned down the opportunity to perform in working men's clubs because they could not cope with club entertainment."

Despite the formality of the society, Mr Welsman says that amateur dramatics in York took its lead from London and was quite forward thinking.

He said: "Outside of London, the amateurs in York were quite progressive. They did put on shows from the West End in the city and that wouldn't be true of every region.

"They also had interesting ideas. For one performance the programme was printed on black paper with special ink that you could read in the dark if you held it up to the stage lights."

The society has been described in the book as a family, which is literally true in some cases as several marriages have resulted and siblings and cousins have often performed side by side.

Dorothy and Peter Pink met in the production of Show Boat in 1952. Two of their sons are in the professional theatre and their son Tony is still serving on the society's committee.

Other couples include Russell and Margaret Taylor, Mike and Mave Wash and Mr Welsman and his wife Joan.

The friendly nature of the society, where all members are equally promoted, hides the fact they it has become increasingly professionally minded, further distancing itself from the traditional image of amateur dramatics.

It has a professional director, musical director and stage manager and more and more sets are being specially created for the society.

Mr Welsman said such an approach was necessary because shows now cost tens of thousands of pounds to stage and good ticket sales are needed merely to break even.

He said: "In the past it was quite common to sell out of tickets, even up to the 1970s that was true, but in the last 20 years or so there have been too many competitive factors. That's why we are investing in the future."

The society created a youth section in 2000, which now has around 100 members. Its next performance will be Bugsy Malone at the Grand Opera House.

But first there is a gala performance of songs from the musicals of the 20th century at York Barbican Centre on July 21, which marks the official centenary celebration for YAODS.

Mr Welsman said: "The society has been quite an important part of the York social and entertainment scene, and is recognised as such.

"A lot of people have spent a lot of happy hours watching society shows over the years and we have continued to keep up with the times in terms of standards of production.

"It's like a family, and looking at all the photographs from the past is like looking at the family album."

Updated: 12:35 Monday, July 15, 2002