Musical Society (GUMS)

The Galway University Musical Society (GUMS) is known for being the only college musical society to let everyone take part. It doesn't matter if the closest thing to being on stage was your Junior Infant Nativity play - all that you need to have to be in GUMS is enthusiasm, a love of musicals (or at least to be prepared to love musicals) and a willingness to get involved.

GUMS is the most active society on campus, having won the Most ALIVE Society for three years in a row at the annual Socs Awards. Not only do we put on a full scale musical production annually, but we also have a collaborative musical with NUIG's drama society, Dramsoc, a tonne of open mic nights, a competing Musical Intervarsities Team, and other opportunities to perform such as 24 hour musicals or musical Lucky Dips.

GUMS' main aims are to stage a fantastic show while also encouraging creativity, fun, new friendships and new experiences for all its members. As we're so busy, GUMS is so perfect for first years who feel a little lost when coming to college. We love welcoming new members, and our committee and older members are always ready to help anyone who ever needs it.

Along with all our other events, GUMS like to have a lot of house parties (for bonding), our annual GUMS Ball (full of cheesy music to delight anyone who loves that whole 90's/00's vibe) and our annual trip to London's West End to see a minimum of one musical and maximum of 5 if you have good time management skills. Shows we have seen in the past are Phantom of the Opera, Book of Mormon, Miss Saigon and the Lion King.

And if you can't commit to our main musicals there are other ways to take part including:

• Musical Intervarsities! GUMS took part in the first ever Musical Intervarsities in UCD in 2016 (taking home Best Male Performer and Runner-Up Best Female Performer) and 2017 (winning Best Ensemble and coming 2nd Overall). In 2018, GUMS submitted an entirely original musical, 'The Greenbrier Murder of 1982' written by Patrick Conneely and was awarded Second Place overall, Spirit of Inters and Second Place for Best Male Performer. At the 2019 Intervarsities, which was also hosted by GUMS. We performed 'The Lost and Found of Beanotown' another original musical written by GUMS own Patrick Conneely and were thrilled to take home first place as well as Best Musical Direction and Best Direction.
• Our collaborative musical with Dramsoc takes place in first semester, so it's perfect for students who might only be in NUIG for the one semester!
• And then whatever else our committee can come up with!

Last year (2020) GUMS put on a production of 'Kipps: The New Half A Sixpence Musical'. Other past shows include Pippin (2019), The Producers (2018), Urinetown (2017), The Addams Family (2016), Cabaret (2015), The Drowsy Chaperone (2014), Rent (2013), Spring Awakening (2012), The Wedding Singer (2011), The Wiz (2010) and more.

You can find us on Instagram (gumsagram), Twitter (@MusicalSoc_NUIG) and Facebook (GUMS: Galway University Musical Society)

Meetings

Contact Us

Email us at musical@socs.nuigalway.ie

Instagram: gumsagram

Twitter: @MusicalSoc_NUIG

Facebook: GUMS: Galway University Musical Society