HAODS - For the best entertainment in live theatre, together with top quality drama - amdram at its best, Henley Operatic & Dramatic Society has it all. Performing at the Kenton Theatre, Henley-on-Thames, NODA award winning HAODS musicals and plays are renowned for excellence.
live theatre, top quality drama, amdram at its best
Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society
Affiliated to the National Operatic & Dramatic Association. Registered Charity 259404.
President: Simon Williams.
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
1977 Mrs V Barter 1983 Mr JAR & Mrs J Yeates
1976 Mr J & Mrs A Luker 1990 Mrs J Taylor
| CELEBRITIES WHO PERFORMED AT THE KENTON THEATRE No.8 Robert Newton |
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In late August 1939, Sidney Foster, the leaseholder of the New Playhouse Theatre (as the Kenton was then known), was considering whether he had done the right thing in importing a group of actors to be his repertory company. He had named them the Henley Players (no connection with the presently active and prominent group of the same name) and had arrange with director William Heaven that their first production would be Yellow Sands, a play by Eden Phillpotts and his daughter Adelaide. The opening night would be 28th August. A film had recently been made of Yellow Sands and Foster was concerned that the release of the film might have a serious effect on the takings for the following week. The film had a cast of top flight actors, including Marie Tempest, Wilfred Lawson, Robert Newton and Patrick Barr, and he expected it to be very popular. One can hardly imagine his surprise and delight when Robert Newton walked into the theatre and volunteered to play, on stage, the part of Joe Varwell which he had played in the film. It did not take Foster long to sort out the details and the play was an outstanding success. The Henley Standard critic wrote " Robert Newton's performance is the finest seen in Henley and should not be missed." The play closed, to great celebrations, on Saturday September 2nd. War was declared the next day and the Henley Players' brilliant opening performance was lost in the confusion of World War Two. Robert Newton was born in Shaftesbury, the son of landscape painter Algernon Newton R.A.. He was educated at St Bartholomew's School in Newbury and began his acting career at the age of sixteen at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1921. He was soon playing in the West End in Bitter Sweet and Private Lives and as Horatio to Laurence Olivier's Hamlet. He made many films, mostly in comedy parts, but it was in 1950 that he played Long John Silver in Treasure Island - the film for which he has become best known. His film career and his life were cut short by chronic alcoholism and he died from a heart attack in Beverly Hills, California in 1956.
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