Horsham Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society HAODS

Our history

Horsham Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (HAODS) has its origins in
an evening class at the old Oxford Road School in the early 1950s. Initially the group specialised in “Gilbert and Sullivan” operettas. Early performances were at the Theatre Royal, which was located behind The Stout House in the Carfax. A group of the players decided they would like to perform other musicals and to enable this they contributed £1 each and thus HAODS was born and in 1954 The Desert Song became their debut production. Initially rehearsals were held in a rented room at the Station Hotel and then a Nissen hut was acquired on the old Army Bomb Disposal Depot at Broadbridge Heath. In the early 1980s there were some major changes for HAODS.

The land on which the Nissen hut stood was acquired by the Council to
make way for the Tesco superstore. HAODS was compensated for its loss of premises by the provision of facilities within the newly built Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre which was the Society home until the 6th October 2018. At around the same time in the 1980s the old Capitol Theatre was demolished and the Ritz Cinema on North Street was converted into the Horsham Arts Centre, later refurbished to become the Capitol we know today. During September 2018, HAODS members packed up the set, costumes and props that had been accumulated over the past 30 years and moved to their new premises, situated at the Old Ambulance Station at Hurst Road.

Interested in joining us?

How much does it cost to join?

We have a yearly membership fee of £50. This entitles you to not only take part in our shows (in whichever capacity you choose), but to attend the many social events we run. There is also a show fee for those that choose to perform, £20 of which is an audition fee which is non refundable, and the rest goes towards costs for the show should you choose to take part.

What can I do?

As well as performing on stage we have fantastic back stage departments, including stage crew, lighting, costumes and props. And it doesn’t end there, if you have a skill you think would be useful to the Society, please do contact us. Email: newmembers@haods.co.uk to find out more.