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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

No. 16 - Thomas Morton - Playwright (1764 - 1838)

Written by Samantha Fields

Thomas Morton was probably the most prolific playwright of his day. He is credited with no fewer than 33 plays but 7 of them were not successful and he denied writing them so his official count is 26. He was born in the village of Whickham, Co Durham, the son of John and Grace Morton. His parents died when he was just four years old and he was sent to London to live with his uncle, John Maddison, a stockbroker, who brought him up as his own son. He attended the Soho Square School where amateur acting was very much in vogue and it was here that he acquired his love of the theatre. One of his closest school friends was Joseph George Holman who later became a well-known actor.

He entered Lincoln's Inn on 2nd July 1784 to study law but there is no evidence that he ever qualified, although he did occupy chambers in the city. It would seem that he abandoned his studies in favour of playwriting. His first play, Columbus, opened at Covent Garden on 1st December 1792 and this was the beginning of a very successful career. It is known that he was paid £1,000 for one of his plays performed at Covent Garden - no mean sum in those days.

Morton was responsible for the introduction of a word into the English language. One of the characters in his play Speed the Plough, Mrs Grundy, has become a synonym for a prudish, narrow-minded and over-conventional attitude. Mrs Grundy was also the forerunner of a dramatic trick which has since been used by many playwrights - she does not appear in the play! Her name is mentioned often and her moralistic attitude is frequently alluded to, but she never actually appears.

Morton was the subject of much abuse and criticism when he accepted the position of 'Reader of Plays' at Covent Garden in 1828. His duties were to read all plays submitted and choose those most suitable for production. In 1831 he transferred to a similar position at the Drury Lane Theatre. He was, nevertheless, a very likeable man according to other reports and was one of the very few people to be invited to join the MCC without having to go through the usual procedure of being elected.

Morton wrote the first play to be performed at the Kenton (or the New Theatre as it was then known). It was School of Reform or How to Rule a Husband. He wrote the play in 1805 and it was first performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden on January 15th of that year. It opened at the Kenton on 7th November and it is very likely that Morton, who lived nearby in Pangbourne, would have come to Henley to see his play opening this new and elegant theatre. School of Reform or How to Rule a Husband, had a repeat performance on November 7th 2005 in celebration of the theatre's bicentenary.

Bill Port

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