Focus on Heywood: Heywood Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society

Organising children as young as eight and adults in full-time employment to put on a week-long stage show is no mean feat, but that is the task taken on by the Heywood Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (HAODS).

Established eighty years ago HAODS puts on two musical performances each year, one performed by the senior section and the other by the juniors of Hey Kids, which was created in 1990 to expand the appeal of HAODS.

Keith Greenwood has been a member of HAODS since 1957, when he took part in the production of ‘Annie Get Your Gun’. Ten years later he became the first player to sit on the societies committee, before going on to become Chairman and later President, a position he has held for 20 years.

From his position as a player and board member Mr Greenwood has seen a large number of HAODS productions over the last 53 years and is as passionate as anyone about being part of the long-standing society. “You get a buzz from it,” said Mr Greenwood. “People come for the adrenaline rush. There’s nothing better than getting an audience clapping for you and making them laugh.”

The society has undergone numerous changes during Mr Greenwood’s time on the committee, most notably with the formation of Hey Kids 20 years ago. This month Hey Kids is putting on its annual show, which this year is the Oliver Award winning musical ‘Honk!’, based on Hans Christian Anderson’s ‘The Ugly Duckling’.

Mr Greenwood explained that Hey Kids was considered a good way of helping young thespians develop their talents before joining the full adults’ society. “It has worked out really well with quite a few children progressing from Hey Kids to the adults’ society. Joanne Marshall, who is producing ‘Honk!’ was originally a player in Hey Kids.”

But whilst Hey Kids is open to all youngsters from eight to 18, it is taken just as seriously as the senior show. “With the kids show people come expecting a pantomime, but it’s nothing like that,” said Mr Greenwood. “If you look at the shows over the past few years they have done some major productions.”

In fact non-members should be wary of mentioning the word ‘amateur’ when talking about any part of HAODS; the whole operation is run in a professional manner.

Mr Greenwood explained: “You’ve got to take it seriously otherwise it becomes a farce. You have to be dedicated, you can’t do it half-heartedly. This isn’t a joke; we’re dealing with people’s money. We have to treat it as a business, not a hobby.”

Putting together a single production involves around 20 weeks of rehearsing, with players going through a rigorous process of auditions and training. “Players are selected by their performance at auditions and then trained throughout rehearsals by the producer to the standard they want,” said Mr Greenwood. “Most have to be able to sing as well. You don’t want someone who can’t hit a note.”

Despite being a philanthropic society and donating money to various causes such as St John’s Ambulance, HAODS relies on more than just ticket sales and membership fees to fund productions which can cost anything up to £15,000. Sponsors play a key role in keeping the society afloat, and this year Heywood ‘Magic’ Market selected Hey Kids as its chosen charity.

Financial pressure is a constant concern for the committee. The Heywood Civic Centre, where all the shows are performed, can hold 360 people but Mr Greenwood admitted that they sometimes play to just 100. “We’ve stopped doing Monday shows for the senior performance so that we can squeeze people in for the rest of the week,” he said. “Costs are also going up, probably only by about 50 pence per costume but when you have to buy 50 it becomes a lot of money.”

Even with the difficulties faced by the society there are high hopes for this Autumn’s Hey Kids production ‘Honk!’, with children queuing up to get involved. “There will be 50 children taking part in ‘Honk!’ and there are another 40 to 50 kids on the waiting list. It’s very popular,” said Mr Greenwood.

At 80 years old HAODS has built up a strong local reputation and Mr Greenwood is pleased that they are still able to put on high quality productions. “I’m just proud that we’re still here, carrying on live theatre. It’s pretty intensive and hard work. It gets harder as you get older!”

Hey Kids will be performing ‘Honk!’ at the Heywood Civic Centre from Wednesday 20 October to Saturday 23 October. Tickets are available from Aileen Greenwood on 01706368904 and at Heywood ‘Magic’ Market on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Tuesday 5 October.

To find out about more community groups in Heywood visit:

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/community/groups/heywood