But, this is not a new situation for the town and its surrounds.

Longtime resident Joan Budden can remember the early days of the Muswellbrook Amateur Theatrical Society, formerly known as Muswellbrook Musical Society.

After seeing a recent Chronicle article about Muswellbrook High School students taking their skills on tour, she found herself reminiscing on decades past.

“It reminded me of the time when we had a beautiful, big orchestra here in Muswellbrook, way back in the 60s and 70s and almost into the 80s as well,” she said.

“It consisted of an orchestra and a choir, and it was called the Muswellbrook Musical Society at that stage.

“We had violins and pianists – there are still a lot of people in Muswellbrook that would remember.

“Quite a lot of them were school teachers and things like that, and they went from school to school, and went to other districts.

“It was just a great time for everybody.

“I’m a life member of it, and my husband at that time was a life member too.

“Underneath my house we used to have all the costumes and things like that until we got our own little place.”

While a lot of the group’s members have moved on, Mrs Budden said she believed there would be some with memories of the many performances the society offered over the decades.

The Muswellbrook Choral Society and Upper Hunter Orchestral Society were formed in 1959.

In 1960, the groups amalgamated to form the Muswellbrook Musical Society, and performed under their new name on November 29.

This was the beginning of many shows offered to the community, including Brigadoon and Oklahoma in 1967, and Annie Get Your Gun in 1969.

The Muswellbrook Amateur Theatrical Society is in the process of compiling photographs and documents from the group’s history.

Anyone interested in donating items is asked to contact Muswellbrook Amateur Theatrical Society on Facebook.