The following year some of the same gentlemen were amongst the cast of Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Gondoliers", which was the last of the twelve productions of the inter War years and was the second time the Society had performed the opera in the 1930s. Almost all their productions since the group reformed in 1927 had been held at the Ritz Cinema on Causeway Lane.

Whilst hindered at pre-performance rehearsals by sickness, the members "overcame all their difficulties in presenting a sparkling performance" when it came to the opening night. The only alteration to the published cast list was Mrs. Jessie Agutter replacing Kathleen Greatorex, whose name and photograph was in the printed in the programme, in the role of Inez^[2].

Sam Fowkes, who apparently had a magnificent bass voice, reprised his 1930 role as Don Alhambra de Bolero. Others from the 1930 production included Clarice Lill and A. S. Morten^[3]. Three thousand people saw the show and the house was packed for the final performance^[4]. The gentlemen of the chorus in 1939, pictured above, were Messrs. D. Birds, G. Dicken, P. Dennis, J. Fifoot, W. G. Houseley, R. Hole, H. R. Harding, H. Turner and R. Wicks^[3].

Edmund Ashley produced the show and G. W. Johnstone was its musical director.

At the Society's annual meeting in April it was announced that the production had made a small profit of just £5.

There was not to be another opera in Matlock until 1947 and the Society lost some members in the intervening years. Bob Wicks (left and top left above) was to join the Royal Air Force and his grand-daughter was told he was in Coastal Command. He was Killed in Action on 21 July 1941, aged 25. He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Arthur Tibbs was still performing at the time of the Society's Golden Jubilee in 1957, and also involved as Chairman of both the Management and Casting Committees. He had played principal parts at some time in his operatic career. Eric Beardow was another stalwart of the Society and became Hon. Secretary. During the war he was a special constable in Matlock. He was heavily involved with the Society's post war revival.