MEMBERSHIP

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HAODS was formed in 1922 with a sellout production of G&S's The Mikado, which was performed in the then cinema, The Regal. Things have certainly moved on since those days, and now HAODS performs large scale musicals in The Kenton Theatre. We celebrated our 2022 centenary with an award-winning version of G&S's Hot Mikado. Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (HAODS) is an amateur dramatic society
based in our studio in New Street in Henley-on-Thames.

We perform two full scale musicals in the Kenton Theatre each year and several smaller, intimate shows in The HAODS Studio per annum including our annual spring dinner theatre productions, catered by local restaurateurs. 2025 sees our seventh annual sell-out production, Keeping Up Appearances. Previous productions have included Black Adder, Allo Allo, Hi Di Hi, Are You Being Served, Blackadder – The Whole Damned Dynesty, & Allo Allo 2. These productions are the best of fun and extremely rewarding for the actors. HAODS is a member of the National Operatic & Dramatic  Association (NODA). NODA gives us a constructive critique of each show and nominates societies for awards. HAODS also enter a one act play into three Drama Festivals in the area annually, Henley, Wallingford, and Abingdon. HAODS is often highly successful at these. We also submit at least one of our studio productions to the annual Henley Drama Festival and often tour around local Oxfordshire drama festivals. Due to our success, we have been invited to compete in the National Drama Festival on several occasions, including this year. We are registered with The National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) and have been nominated for and won many awards for our shows, including Half a Sixpence, Jesus Christ Superstar, Our House, Shrek, and The Hot Mikado.

We welcome new members, both on stage and behind the scenes, and encourage newcomers to the
performing arts, giving them confidence and life skills that being a part of a team develops.

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