The first show chosen was the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, "The Sorcerer", which was performed at the Alexandra Hall in Clifton on the 23rd May 1894. The major reason for wishing to do this was to collect money for a local charity and this they continued to do in later years. The Society possesses the first poster of this production. 

With such success it was necessary to find a larger venue for their annual production, therefore they moved to the Victoria Rooms in 1899 (pictured right).

Whilst Bruce was inspiring the Society, his daughter Phyllis was being trained by the Society's choreographer, Edna Mary Stacy, a leading Dancing Mistress in the City at that time. She became so good that she turned professional at the age of 14 and secured the position of prima ballerina at the Empire, London by 1913 at the age of 20. Later she was associated with the founding of the Royal Academy of Dancing.

Due to the Victoria Rooms being turned into a cinema in 1921, BAOS moved their annual production to the Colston Hall. During this time the Society continued with shows by Gilbert & Sullivan and Edward German. However greater success was achieved when they staged more modern shows like the "Rebel Maid" in 1925, especially when choreographed by Phyllis Bedells. At that time she established a dancing school in Clifton , now known as the Bristol School of Dance. (read more about that here).

In the 1930's the father of the leading lady, Nancy Tricks, was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Prince's Theatre; a very convenient arrangement, since the Society were invited to play there from 1933. Phenomenal success was achieved at this time with queues forming at the unusual hour of 9pm the night before the box office opened for "Goodnight Vienna" in 1937. The local press reported "30 Wait Up All Night".

During the Second World War the Prince's Theatre was lost in the blitz never to be rebuilt. The Society tried other venues immediately after the War but then returned to the Victoria Rooms and has continued there for many years. One of the highlights of the post-war years was an invitation in 1959 from the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort to perform excerpts from their latest show "Brigadoon" at the Badminton Memorial Hall, the last night of which was attended by the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.  

In the 1950's shows by Vivian Ellis, Ivor Novello and Noel Coward were staged but by the 1960's it was found necessary by public demand to move to the superb American musicals, the major break being in 1961 with "Pajama Game". Great publicity was gained by our leading man, Roy Smith, talking to Edmund Hockeridge outside the Bristol Hippodrome, supposedly gaining hints on how to play the part of Sid Sorokin.

The thriving junior group, BAOS Juniors (now known as BAOS Youth) was established in 1990 for young persons aged between 10 and 18. Under the leadership of Nick Yelland, their first show Alice was produced. The following May the first Junior Revue was presented at the Rooftop Studios and BAOS Juniors had arrived. 
Throughout the 100 years many of our leading singers have turned professional. This was particularly prevalent in the first fifty years, when a large proportion went into the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. 

As of 2012, BAOS made the difficult decision to no longer stage shows at the prestigious Victoria Rooms venue, and have firmly established themselves as a regular guest company in the Redgrave Theatre and the Newman Hall. 

2015 sees BAOS Youth celebrate 25 years and this gives the opportunity to look back on a successful past, thanks to the commitment of those that have been involved. BAOS Juniors, now BAOS Youth, has survived a turbulent twenty-five years with highs and lows and a few 'scares' as to whether they would continue. However, in this year 2015, they are as strong as they have ever been, and the future looks exceptionally rosy for them with many developing talents that shine alongside any adult production.