Published on 1st June 2024

Horsham Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (HAODS) is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. In May, the society performed Kipps - The New Half a Sixpence Musical, at the Capitol Theatre. Soon, HAODS will begin auditions for productions of Blackadder II and The Addams Family, while junior members present the Wizard of Oz in the summer. AAH met chairperson Tess Kennedy, HAODS members Jane O’ Sullivan, Roz Hall, Tom Hounsham and Sam Willmer, musical director Brian D. Steel and costume designer Lesley Dolman to find out more… 

Jane: I have been a member of HAODS since I moved to Horsham in 1987, having inherited a love of theatre from my dad. We’ve always been proud of our history at HAODS and when we marked our 60th anniversary in 2014, spent hours looking through archive editions of the West Sussex County Times to find cast photographs from every show we’ve done. We also laminated posters of past productions at HAODS House, where we meet twice weekly for rehearsals. 

Tess: For years, we met at Broadbridge Heath Sports Centre. When it was demolished, there was no space for us at The Bridge, the replacement centre, and we’ve been in temporary sites ever since. We’re currently based at the Old Ambulance Station on Hurst Road. However, with the adjacent fire station having moved to a new premises, the site is going to be redeveloped. The Council needs to give us six months’ notice and we’re expecting that to come soon. There is no obvious place for us to move to, but Horsham District Council is supportive of our needs and we hope to find a good home. With the Capitol closing for refurbishment next year too, we will face challenges, although we’re well placed to tackle them.  

Jane: Usually, we perform two musical productions a year, with recent shows including The Producers and 9 to 5 in 2022 and Betty Blue Eyes and Hairspray last year. When you look through the archives, there was a time when Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals (Oklahoma! Carousel, South Pacific, etc) dominated, but our offering is more diverse now. There is a broader range of musicals we can adapt and while demand for the classics remains, we’re mindful of attracting younger audiences too. The HAODS committee usually puts three shows forward for members to vote on, but considerable thought goes into the programme as you have to think not about tickets sales, but also challenging the cast and crew. 

Roz: Kipps retells the story of Half a Sixpence, which is quite an old-fashioned musical with well-known songs such as Flash, Bang, Wallop and If the Rain’s Got to Fall. However, we have the ability to take any show and make a good production. I’m a huge Stephen Sondheim fan and although his shows don’t always do well at the Box Office, they’re very challenging musically and it’s satisfying when you perform them well. In recent years, we’ve performed Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods and Follies, and the songs are difficult to master as Sondheim doesn’t adopt standard melodies. However, these musicals help us improve as singers and performers. Later this summer, we will perform a stage version of Blackadder II, with more plays mooted for the future. The standard is high as we focus not just on acting, singing and choreography, but also ensure productions have good sets, lighting, costumes and music beyond the standard of most amateur societies. 

Brian: I have been the musical director on 29 HAODS productions, the first being Showboat in 1995. However, Kipps was the first one I’ve been involved in since Made in Dagenham in 2017. For this production, we had an eight-strong band, including three reed instruments, two trumpets, two trombones and a drummer. Ideally, we would have had a guitarist playing banjo and ukulele too, as well as a double bass player, but I had to cover these parts on the keys. This was the first time since Covid that I’ve been involved in a production with a full band, so it felt like a momentous occasion for us musicians. During rehearsals, I go to HAODS House and play piano, while the rest of the band only come in for a social rehearsal a few days before opening night. When all the musicians are down in the pit at the theatre for the dress rehearsal, the sound of live music gives everyone on stage a huge lift. They hear the saxophones, trumpets, clarinets, drums and keys and suddenly it feels like being in a West End production.

Jane: HAODS has always been a thriving society, but in recent years we’ve been able to attract more younger members, who have injected fresh energy and ideas. We have many more men in the cast too, which is something societies often struggle with.  

Tom: I live in Broadbridge Heath and have been with HAODS for about 13 years, although this is the first musical I’ve been involved in on stage for several years, as I’ve previously worked backstage. I joined after my housemate told me I needed to meet more people and the social side has been fantastic, as you meet so many people. We have everyone from students to people in retirement, with a vast range of professions covered too. The age range is just as varied and we recently celebrated the 80th birthday of one member. Amateur theatre is a great way of getting involved in your community and of making friends and that is what has kept me here. 

Sam: I joined when I was 28 and I’m now taking on my first proper role, two years later. I studied Music Tech at university but now work in a different industry, so needed something to get the creative juices flowing again. What drew me to HAODS was the variety, as there are opportunities to be on stage and to work behind the scenes. I initially joined the crew before gaining the confidence to tread the boards in Betty Blue Eyes. In Kipps, I’ve taken on a bigger part as Mr Maxwell, the snootiest architect in Folkestone. 

Tom: For Kipps, I’m only in the ensemble cast, playing several roles including a posh person, a man in the pub and a gentleman at a woodworking class, which means I have 10 costume changes! What is nice about HAODS is that you can step back – take a smaller role or help backstage – if you cannot commit to several months of rehearsals. You learn a lot behind the scenes. I’ve picked up carpentry skills while designing and building sets, which is a life skill I can take away from here.

Tess: We save a lot of money by having our own workshop to build sets, as they can cost upwards of £5,000 to hire. We also have an incredible range of costumes that we’ve accumulated over 70 years. 

Lesley: In the costumes department, a lot of our time is spent sourcing outfits and making alterations. We don’t have an electronic inventory, so finding costumes relies on knowledge and experience. I’m starting to remember the outfits used in shows I’ve been involved in, but regular director/choreographer Yvonne Chadwell has an amazing memory when it comes to clothes and props. We also hire them out to other societies and production companies, bringing in extra money for HAODS. Sometimes, you don’t think there’s much point in keeping a dozen nun outfits, but when another company decides to stage Sister Act, they’re grateful we have so many! 

Roz: We have some dedicated members who are involved in most shows. However, it is a society you can take a break from and come back to. I was part of the backstage crew for Hairspray, as I have to balance HAODS with my family commitments. When your children are studying for their GCSEs you cannot attend two rehearsals a week, so, I’ve taken on a smaller part in Kipps. People often take a break for family or work reasons, but it’s never a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and the door is always open.  

Tess: One reason why we’ve maintained healthy membership numbers while other amateur dramatics groups have struggled is that we have a very good junior section. Every year, HAODS Juniors present a show at the performing arts centre at QEII Silver Jubilee School in Horsham, with the cast now rehearsing for Wizard of Oz in July. We have 33 children aged seven to 15, with another 26 on the waiting list. It is very affordable compared to other children’s clubs and activities and everyone has opportunities to get involved. Running the group can be challenging, but the payback is that we are feeding HAODS with more young people, while it’s also nice for our members who want to encourage their children to share their passion for theatre.  

Jane: Another big attraction is the Capitol Theatre. It’s a wonderful experience for us as amateur performers to be on such a great stage. We feel very lucky and it undoubtedly raises our levels of performance. We also perform with a live orchestra, which elevates the production beyond that of most amateur groups. When you consider the price of the tickets compared to other theatrical productions, we really do offer excellent value for money.

Brian: I work with many operatic societies in the south east as a Musical Director, but few are as successful as HAODS. Like all societies, there have been ups and downs over the years, but the cast for Kipps knocked my socks off. The age range has broadened and the society now has members in their teens right through to their 70s, so people are being cast as characters close to their own age. HAODS is certainly going strong as it looks ahead to its 75th anniversary. 

Further information:

For more details about Blackadder II and other productions, visit www.haods.co.uk