Behind the Scenes by Mags Fisher

So much is needed for each show - choosing the production according to ones' abilities and budget; finding a suitable team of people to be responsible for Production, Musical Direction and choreography; folk to organise publicity, box office, front of house; a Backstage Director and his team of helpers; prompter, decor and props, etc. Then there's an army of costumes to be made, and maybe a few specialist ones to be hired. Wardrobe is always desperate to find willing hands to help with the routing sewing and finishing of costumes. HAODS' Wardrobe offers a Hire Service for costumes to other Societies, Fancy Dress, etc. as requested. Then of course auditions must be held to select the principals and then we can get cracking on actually learning the show itself!

Whenever possible we use members from within HAODS for every role, but in more recent years we have occasionally had to go outside for principals and Musical Directors, and recently we have experimented with using a professional Producer. Every show poses different challenges, and we just have to cope with them en route.

Throughout the year we go out into the community with our "Outside Entertainment's". When requested we take these short, mainly musical, events to residential homes, hospitals, social functions, fund-raising events, charity occasions, etc. It is great fun having a free hand to choose ones material, but, as always, finding time to fit in rehearsals is always a pressure. We sometimes perform in-house entertainments to members and friends to raise money for charity, and we make annual donations to charity. Our social scene also includes annual dinner dances, theme socials, car rallies, quizzes, etc. sometimes involving other groups.

Our playing membership currently runs at about 60, with other folk as Life members, Associate members, Patrons and helpers. Anyone is most welcome to become a Patron to support the society and to feel involved with our endeavours and productions.