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Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society

Affiliated to the National Operatic & Dramatic Association. Registered Charity 259404.

President: Simon Williams.

simon williams our President HAODS was formed in 1922 and each year usually puts on two musicals and a play at Henley's Kenton Theatre and, every other year at an open-air venue. Our major shows are the musicals, usually one around April and again in November. Productions of plays varies, but we always have an entry into the Kenton Drama Festival.

We are fortunate to own the well-equipped Green Room, behind the Kenton, which is where we hold our rehearsals and social events; our extensive wardrobe is also stored there, in a recently built extension. Rehearsals usually take place three nights a week for large productions, which increase to Sunday rehearsals closer to the production date. Readings and our auditions are generally open to all. If you are a non-member and are fortunate enough to be cast in a show, you will be required to join as a performing member.

The Kenton Theatre is a Regency gem, opened in 1805, set in the heart of Henley-on-Thames. The fourth oldest working theatre in the country, the Kenton’s two hundred and thirty four seat auditorium has a warm, friendly and cosy intimacy that makes it a perfect performance space for both HAODS's large scale musicals and intimate plays. Kate Winslet and the West End's Oliver, Harry Stott are just two of the many stars who trod the Kenton stage at an early age, Harry having appeared in our production of Singin' in the Rain in 2004.

New members are always welcome – whether as budding actors, or to help backstage with set building, costumes or props – or maybe just as a supporter to enjoy the social functions. Drop into one of our Coffee Mornings, Club Room Lunches or come and see a production. You will have the warmest of welcomes and the best of times if you stay! Click here to Join Us.

Vice Presidents
Mr M Chalcroft His Worship the Mayor of Henley Mr J Luker
Mr R Hardy CBE His Worship the Mayor of Falaise Mr J A R Yeates
Mr Simon Langton Mr J Yeates Mrs A Luker

Life Members
Nansi Diamond Mary Reece

NODA Long Service Awards
1977 Mrs V Barter 1983 Mr JAR & Mrs J Yeates
1976 Mr J & Mrs A Luker 1990 Mrs J Taylor

Click here to view a list of all the Henley Operatic shows from 1922 to today

Celebrities who appeared at the Kenton No.11 - Melvyn Hayes - Actor

Written by Bill Port

No.11 - Melvyn Hayes - Actor

Melvyn Hayes was elected King Rat, Head of the Grand Order of Water Rats, in 2005, the highest honour paid by the members of this charitable music hall society to one of their colleagues.

He was born on January 1st 1935 and got his first job in show business at the Comedy Theatre in London in 1950 taking part in "Maskelyne's Magic". His small stature made him perfect for the part of the boy in the Indian Rope trick who climbs to the top and disappears. He was paid £4 per week. Even now he is only 5'3".

He spent the next ten years doing small parts in films and in theatre and television dramas. His appearances in television include playing the Artful Dodger in "Oliver Twist", Edik in "The Silver Sword" and the lead role in the award-winning documentary "The Unloved". During this time he also completed over one thousand performances in the West End in Bill Naughton's "Spring and Port Wine".

His big break came in 1960 when he signed a seven year contract with Associated British Pictures and played leading roles in several films including the Cliff Richard movies "The Young Ones", "Summer Holiday" and "Wonderful Life". He has appeared, in total, in more than fifty films. In the late 1960s he married the actress and theatrical agent Wendy Padbury. They were later divorced and he married Jayne Male, a theatrical costumier, in 1987. They have one child.

In the 1970s it seemed that he was never off television thanks to his role in "It Ain't Half Hot, Mum". As Bombardier "Gloria" Beaumont he appeared in all 56 episodes of the BBC sitcom which was first shown in 1974. The plot followed the fortunes of a concert party entertaining the troops in Burma during the Second World War. He seemed to spend most of his time in drag and succeeded in creating one of the most memorable of all television characters. When the series finished in 1981 he was the subject of "This is Your Life" on Thames Television and was also in the Royal Variety Show. Since then he has made 27 appearances in "Countdown" as the expert. He also made several appearances in "Drop the Dead Donkey", and, most recently, he has joined the cast of "Eastenders" as Michael Rawlins the driving instructor. He has also made many non-appearances as the voice of "Superted" and "Budgie - the Helicopter".

His one and only foray to the Edinburgh Festival was in a play entitled "Saved by Sex" which was an outstanding failure.

Melvyn continues to make regular appearances in pantomime and has toured in many plays including "Run for your Wife" which played at the Hexagon in Reading. He is also in demand as a cabaret artist and as an after-dinner speaker.

He performed at the Kenton from April 26th to May 1st 1982 in a play called "Stage Struck".

Bill Port

In addition to bill's fine article the following is an extract from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Melvyn Hayes
Born	11 January 1935 (1935-01-11) (age 76) London, England

Melvyn Hayes (born 11 January 1935) is an English actor probably best known for playing the effeminate Gunner (later Bombardier) 'Gloria' Beaumont in the BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum,

Hayes attended Sir Walter St John's Grammar School, Battersea. He was also in a well known theatrical troupe called Terry's Juveniles and his acting career stretches back to 1950 when he was "disappearing twice daily for £4 per week" performing the Indian Rope Trick in Maskelyne's Mysteries at the Comedy Theatre in London. He also appeared in Repertory Theatres in Surrey, Derbyshire and the Midlands.

Notable film roles include the young Victor Frankenstein in The Curse of Frankenstein 1957, 'Jimmy' in The Young Ones with Cliff Richard (1961), 'Cyril' in Summer Holiday, again with Cliff Richard (1963), and 'Brother Willy' in Crooks in Cloisters (1964). As well as roles in popular films, Hayes has appeared in numerous TV shows and series throughout his long career and is still performing regularly.

He also performed voices on children's cartoons such as SuperTed, The Dreamstone, Little Dracula, Alfred J. Quack, Pongwiffy and Budgie the Little Helicopter.

Hayes is also well known for his performances as a traditional Pantomime Dame in British Christmas Pantomimes - his most recent roles being Nanny Nellie in Sleeping Beauty in Worthing, West Sussex, UK (2006) and Widow Twankey in Aladdin in Chatham (2005).

Other roles include parts in EastEnders as the character Michael Rawlins. Carry On England, Love Thy Neighbour, The Thin Blue Line, Here Come the Double Deckers, Potter's Picture Palace and the final series of Drop the Dead Donkey. He also provided the voice to several characters in the English translation of the cartoon Alfred J Kwak.

He was previously married to actress and agent Wendy Padbury and now lives in Sandown on the Isle of Wight.

He presented a selection of awards at the annual Isle of Wight County Press Amateur theatre awards ceremony on 9 November 2010, at the Shanklin Conservative Club

Selected filmography

    * The Man Who Loved Redheads (1955)
    * No Trees in the Street (1959)
    * King of the Wind (1989)

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