Our Honorary Life Members

Louise Munro

Honorary Life Member since 2007

Louise Munro is our longest-serving member.  She joined the Inverness Opera Company in 1957 for rehearsals for her first show - The Maid of the Mountains in 1958.  2027 will mark her 70th year with the company!  Louise has had many principal and supporting principal roles over the years, including Golde in 1983 which her daughter Alison then played in 2000.  She was heavily involved in the social committee, organising safari suppers, car treasure hunts, and company kids days.  She was the first amateur actress to stand on the new Empire Theatre stage in 1976 after Eden Court was built.  Louise became an honorary vice president in 2007, and after a restructure of titles, was named an honorary life member in 2014.  Louise was always known for finding the spotlight in every scene in every show, and is especially remembered for taking the longest time to cross the stage whilst continuously ad-libbing her way through a scene just to serve “two soups” to a rather grumpy customer.

Maureen Pringle

Honorary Life Member since 2014

Joined in 1960 for the 1961 production of Oklahoma. Has played several roles over the years, including the part of Ado Annie in Oklahoma twice – once in 1961 and once in 1974. As well as performing, she also dipped her toes into committee life, but didn’t last long as she “stirred things up too much”. She went on to be much more involved in the social committee, and helped in many other areas of theatre production such as costumes in the 60s and 70s, lighting for South Pacific on the old board that needed hands and feet to operate in the Little Theatre in Farraline Park. She has also directed 10 shows with IOC and assisted with many more. She has been an hon. life member since 2014.

Anne Harvey

Honorary Life Member since

Anne joined the Inverness Opera Company in 1978.

Marian Armstrong

Honorary Life Member since 2018

Marian joined the company in 1991 for the 1992 show, Showboat.  She was on stage as part of the ensemble until Brigadoon in 2001, and often helped with wardrobe in that time. (She particularly remembers making seven circular gingham skirts, each with a gathered flounce, then added lace on the flounce. They then had to do the same, only in white, for the petticoats! This was for her second show - Oklahoma.)  Marian was on social committee for five years and committee for two years in the nineties, then again for four years from 2011-2015. From 2001 she has been involved in wardrobe and props, either as a helper or lead.  Her only performing show since then was Day and Night in 2014.

Her favourite performing shows were Showboat and Fiddler on the Roof; and non-performing ones were Titanic, where she did props, and Made in Dagenham, where she did wardrobe.

Stella Reynolds

Honorary Life Member since 2017

Stella joined the Inverness Opera Company in 1976 for the 1977 production of The Mikado.  She spent most of her time performing on stage, but has also supported with wardrobe for some productions over the years.  She spent 13 years on the IOC committee in a variety of roles, including secretary, vice chair, vice treasurer, treasurer, and chair.  She has been an honorary life member since 2017.  She was recently awarded a 50 year NODA membership award as she was part of Carluke Amateur Operatic Society before joining IOC.

George Reynolds

Honorary Life Member since 2024

Joined in 1977 after being encouraged to do so by his wife Stella and also being asked by John Doyle if he could build the set, and stage manage for Show Boat in 1978. George has been the backbone of the backstage crew ever since and has stage managed dozens of shows over the years. He has been an hon. life member of the company since 2024. We would be lost without him!