Barking Music and Drama also known as Barking MAD started back in the 1970s as a council night school class. It was led by Borough music teacher Ethel Giles and shows were performed at local halls and schools throughout Barking and Dagenham. It was a great success and attracted many members and supporters.

Ethel retired in 1979 and another Borough teacher called Carole Cable took over as Musical Director. However, the council decided to cancel the evening class, and because the members wanted to carry on, they decided to pay their own fees and formed Barking Operatic Society. A council grant was gained to pay for rehearsal and performance spaces, but BOS members had to collect membership fees and organise fundraising events in order to stage larger scale productions – usually at The Broadway Theatre, Barking back in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

When Carole Cable passed away suddenly in 1997, another amazing Carol took over and from 1998 to 2022 the musical direction was led by Carol Lucas. In November 2005 BOS decided to change its name and since 2006 has been known by its current and apt title of Barking Music and Drama….. BARKING MAD or B.MAD!!!!

As a Society we are a family. We get to do what we love which is perform and put on shows for the enjoyment of others. We have company members who have won NODA awards and we have given performers the start and experience to go on to fulfil their dreams on bigger stages. But, for this to continue to happen we still need to fundraise.

The fundraising we do as a society is paramount and key to us being able to put on the large-scale productions that B.MAD has become known for – and that’s where your help and kindness comes in. Our next Fundraising Event is the ‘LONDON BRIDGES WALK’ on Sunday 12th May. We will walk approximately 10 miles weaving across some of the iconic bridges along the Embankment, finishing over Tower Bridge. Funds raised will go towards our next summer Show – ‘The Wedding Singer’ – already in production and being performed at the Kenneth More Theatre, Ilford 13th-15th June 2024.