Our story began in 1971, when the newly arrived Rector of Solihull, Canon Raymond Wilkinson, established the St Alphege Gilbert and Sullivan Society as a parish activity. Canon Wilkinson had a tradition of forming a Gilbert and Sullivan society in every parish in which he served, and Solihull was to be no exception!

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Around 40 people attended the inaugural meeting on Tuesday 25 May 1971, bringing an array of interests and talents. Some wanted to act and sing, while others offered their skills in scenery, wardrobe, rehearsal accompaniment and the many other roles needed to bring a production to the stage. It was decided that the new society's first production would be The Pirates of Penzance, to be performed that autumn.

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The society quickly flourished. By 1978, membership had grown to 62, including 13 of those original members. Having performed much of the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire, alongside fundraising concerts for organisations across the borough, the company began to broaden its horizons and became St Alphege Operatic Society, taking on works including The Merry Widow, Orpheus in the Underworld, The Belle of New York and Die Fledermaus.

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But the evolution didn't stop there. As the company continued to grow, its members wanted to explore an even wider range of theatre. Modern musicals joined the repertoire and, reflecting this new direction, the society adopted the name we know today: St Alphege Musical Production Society - STAMPS.

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More than five decades after that first meeting, STAMPS continues to bring people together to perform, create and share a love of musical theatre in Solihull, building on a tradition that began back in 1971.