Past productions 2022-2014
October 2023: The Gondoliers
Our 120th anniversary production delighted audiences and played to packed houses. Updating the action from 1750 to the present day allowed us to examine the traditional monarchy vs republic debate through the lens of celebrity culture, adding fresh insights to this perennially popular show – which both Gilbert and Sullivan regarded as one of their finest collaborations.
Photos by John Malone.
October 2022: Iolanthe
‘A brilliant production … so enjoyable!’
‘Very lighthearted and professional – bravo!’
A steampunk-flavoured take on this perennial G&S fan favourite proved a big hit with audiences. Meanwhile the political events that unfolded during our show week – including the fall-out from the ‘mini-budget’ – proved this show’s political satire has hardly dated at all.
Directed and conducted by Steve Taylor, with musical direction by Lee Dewsnap and choreography by Susi Pink.
Photos by John Malone.
May 2022: Trial by Music
An original Gilbert & Sullivan compilation show by Bob Salter and Terry Saunders, it imagines Gilbert suing Sullivan in the afterlife, aided and abetted by characters from the Savoy operas. Featuring a complete performance of Trial by Jury in Act 2.
‘Fresh and funny’ ‘Comedy gold!’ ‘The singing was of a very high standard’ were just some of the audience comments.
Directed by Wesley Henderson Roe with musical direction by Lee Dewsnap and choreography by Susi Pink.
Photos by John Malone.
‘Energy and genuine happiness from everyone on stage’ NODA review
October 2021: The Roaring Twenties!
Our first show after lockdown! Originally scheduled for March 2020, we were delighted to finally put this concert on in October 2021. Featuring music from, and inspired by, the 1920s, including Gershwin’s Someone To Watch Over Me, Fats Waller’s Ain’t Misbehavin’, medleys from Chicago and Thoroughly Modern Millie and, of course, the Charleston! Plus a set of songs inspired by A A Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh, published in 1926.
‘Wonderful evening’ ‘High energy perfomance’ ‘The best I’ve ever heard you sing’ – were just some of the audience comments!
Autumn 2019: The Pirates of Penzance
Colourful and joyous with some unusual touches, little did we know this multi-award-winning production would be our last before the pandemic.
Directed by Gareth Bevan with musical direction by Lee Dewsnap and choreography by Karen Munday, assisted by Fay Ellingham.
Photos by John Malone.
‘A thoroughly entertaining and successful production.’ NODA review
Spring 2019: A Nice Dilemma!
An original comedy revue, featuring songs from a range of West End and Broadway shows – including ‘West Side Story’ ‘Phantom of the Opera’ ‘A Chorus Line’ and ‘Hairspray’ – combined with Gilbert and Sullivan numbers, as the committee of St Expedite’s Players struggle to decide on the songs for their next show.
Directed by Johanna Chambers with musical direction by Lee Dewsnap and choreography by Fay Ellingham.
Photos by John Malone.
A Nice Dilemma! – NODA review
Autumn 2018: Ruddigore
Visually spectacular with just the right amount of twist in the traditional setting, and welcoming back lots of familiar faces to the HLO fold, this award-winning, sell-out production was a fitting tribute to our much-missed President and Chair, the late Peter King, whose favourite G&S it was. This was the first show to feature ‘Balconeers’ singing the chorus numbers from the theatre balcony.
Directed by Wesley Henderson-Roe with musical direction by Lee Dewsnap and choreography by Karen Munday, assisted by Fay Ellingham.
Photos by John Malone.
‘An excellent production.’ NODA review
‘A delightful and spirited performance.’ Mark Aspen review
Spring 2018: The Zoo
This rare beast is an early one-act operetta by Sir Arthur Sullivan, with libretto by Bolton Rowe. Although appearing less often than the average comet, it’s a delightful work with the usual ridiculous sort of plot, featuring the farcical goings-on of two sets of lovers in a day at the zoo, all set to Sullivan’s gloriously unmistakeable music. ‘The Zoo’ was preceded by a concert of animal-themed songs.
Directed by Genna Martinez and Rachel White, with musical direction by Lee Dewsnap.
Photos by John Malone.
The Zoo NODA review
Autumn 2017: Little Shop of Horrors
Yes, it’s the one with the plant that says ‘FEED ME!’ Colourful, tuneful, macabre, HLO’s production of Ashman and Menken’s comedy-horror musical proved a hit with audiences. Comments included ‘Entertaining, chilling and laugh-out-loud funny’ ‘For a small ensemble, they have a large presence and a big sound’ ‘This show was undoubtedly a trip into uncharted waters for HLOC and they should be pleased and satisfied that they have pulled it off and succeeded in delivering a good evening’s entertainment.’
Directed by Bill Compton with musical direction by Lee Dewsnap.
Photos by Handwritten Photography.
Little Shop of Horrors NODA review
Mark Aspen review
Spring 2017: The Spring Song Singers/Trial By Jury
The Spring Song Singers, a short play by Richard Tydeman, features a disorganised choir’s unsuccessful attempts to put on a concert. We followed it with a semi-staged production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s legal-lampooning one-act operetta, Trial By Jury.
Autumn 2016: The Mikado
A colourful and traditional production with a few twists – including a female Mikado!
Directed by Helen Smith with musical direction by Lee Dewsnap. This was the first show to feature Lee’s award-winning one-man orchestral arrangement on electronic organ.
Photos by John Malone.
‘Infectious and delirious’ Mark Aspen review
Summer 2016: Concert - A Grand Night for Singing
A seasonal selection of favourite tunes including ‘Blue Skies’, ‘Blackbird’, ‘Scarborough Fair’, ‘Beside the Seaside’ a medley of James Bond tunes and, of course ‘A Grand Night For Singing’ itself. The Pimms flowed and a good time was had by all!
Spring 2016: Godspell
We hope everyone who came to see this joyous and colourful musical celebration of life, love and community had as much fun as we had performing it!
Directed by Rachel White with musical direction by Lee Dewsnap.
Photos by Beth Clews.
Autumn 2015 : The Pirate Queen
We were proud to produce the UK premiere of this exciting show by Les Miserables creators Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, based on real-life Irish pirate queen Grace O’Malley.
A cast of 23 played multiple parts including Irish clanspeople, English soldiers, and courtiers of Queen Elizabeth I.
Directed by Bill Compton with musical director James Hall, assistant musical director Lee Dewsnap and a band including Uillean pipes, Irish whistles, a harp and a vast array of percussion.
Photos by Handwritten Photography.
Spring 2015: G and S revue
Covering 100 years of musical history and featuring items beginning with, or involving, the letters G and S – including music by Gershwin and Sondheim as well as Gilbert & Sullivan.
Winter 2014: Concert – Christmas Voices
An evening of festive song and verse.
Autumn 2014: The Sorceror
One of Gilbert & Sullivan’s least-performed operettas but a delightful work, given the HLO traditional-with-a-twist treatment – including a real exploding teapot!
Directed by Elizabeth Malone with musical direction by Frances Oldbury.
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Spring 2014: Revue - How the West was Sung
Songs, dances and chorus numbers with a Wild West theme.
