KEIGHLEY’S historic amateur operatic and dramatic society has got a new name.

KAODS, known locally as Keighley Amateurs, has renamed itself Keighley Musical Theatre Company.

The decision by the group, which performs a musical and pantomime each year at Victoria Hall, was made at its recent annual general meeting.

A spokesman said: “Our old name ‘Keighley Amateur, Operatic and Dramatic Society’ does not really capture our current way of operating.

“We are not ‘operatic’ in style and we try very hard not to be ‘amateur’.”

The decision came as the theatre company discovered that its last musical under the old name had won an award at the prestigious Wharfedale Festival of Theatre.

Denholme farmer Mark Hutchinson was awarded the prize for Best Cameo for his “sparkling” portrayal of Teen Angel in rock ‘n’ roll show Grease last October.

Mark made his adult stage debut only the year before in the Keighley Amateurs’ production of comedy musical The Producers, playing a wannabe Nazi who bred homing pigeons.

He received much praise for his hilarious performance, and went on to perform with Sutton’s Green Hut Theatre Company in April last year in the musical Pajama Game.

Mark,45, returned to the Amateurs first for pantomime Dick Whittington then for the cameo role in Grease.

Keighley Musical Theatre Company has a modern name but for its first production under the new name it has chosen a traditional musical.

My Fair Lady will be performed from October 18 to 21 at Victoria Hall including a Saturday matinee.

The group’s winter 2018 pantomime will be Babes In The Wood.