Nothing Whatever to Grumble At

'Nothing Whatever To Grumble At'? . well, hardly ever! There are one or two grumbles in John's story, it's true, but the few you'll find pale into insignificance against his joy of performing in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. But this book begins long before John's twenty-eight years with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company; it starts with his happy childhood, and his early days in the theatre. And after the D'Oyly Carte, his amazing second career which spanned a further fourteen years as a freelance performer and director.

JOHN REED OBE Born near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, John spent his early years in the theatre playing in weekly repertory. A chance meeting with a friend resulted in an audition for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, which John joined in 1951 as a chorister and understudy to the principal comedian Peter Pratt. Eight years later he took over the comic roles and became a great favourite with audiences, here in the UK and throughout the USA and Canada. After leaving the company John was much in demand in America, both to direct and to perform in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. He was awarded the OBE in 1977. CYNTHIA MOREY Hampshire-born Cynthia Morey trained in singing at the Royal College of Music, London, before joining the chorus of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1951. Three years later she became a principal soprano, leaving the company in 1957, and eventually joining Sadler's Wells Opera, where as a principal mezzo she played many character roles in operetta. As well as performing in the UK, Cynthia toured the USA, Australia, New Zealand and throughout Europe. She has also appeared in many West End musicals, and has written two books of theatrical reminiscences