Latest News

New Board Member

We are very excited to introduce Ehsan to the HOS Board of Management. Ehsan has been co-opted to manage the marketing and sponsorship for our shows. He’s a nice guy  Make sure you say hi when you see him!

Ehsan fell in love with theatre at an early age when he found success as a tree and later as a rock on stage! He believes that watching actors play a role live, is still the purest form of entertainment. Ehsan brings over a decade of marketing, communication, and events management experience, which he has gained working in different parts of the world in various industries. He is very excited to use his skills and knowledge to help Hamilton Operatic Society grow.

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Life Memberships

At our AGM this year life memberships were bestowed on two members who were recognised as providing exceptional, loyal and outstanding service and contribution over a significant period of years.

Colin Smith QSM

Colin was Resident Musical Director for the Society from 1983 – 1990. He served 2 years on the Board – circa 1988/89/90. Colin also was heavily involved in the fundraising campaign for the new theatre, now called Clarence St Theatre, which opened in 1987.

Colin was Musical Director for:
1981 – Aloha (Assistant MD)
1982 – Great Waltz & Zorba
1983 – Guys and Doll & Song of Norway
1984 – Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Sound of Music & Can Can
1985 – Chicago
1986 – Annie Get Your Gun
1987 – Me and My Girl, Variety Concert – Fundraising concert for new Theatre – Held at the Founders & Tarantara Tarantara
1988 – Ali Ba Ba & Die Fledermaus (with Dame Malvina Major)
1989 – My Fair Lady (with Max Cryer)
1990 – Oliver

Judy Braithwaite

When she was a 10 year old student in Alma McKenzie’s dance school, she was a Snow Flake Fairy in the 1965 HAOS (as it was known then) production of The Wizard of Oz. Then in 1970 a dancer/singer in Oklahoma, and in 1973 it was the New Zealand amateur premiere of My Fair Lady. In 1974 it was Sprintze in Fiddler On The Roof where she met her husband Ron, who is also a life member of the Society. Many years of shows followed (totalling more than 35 performance seasons), often several in a year, and Judy was also part of a floor show troupe, which performed to raise funds for the Drury Lane Theatre (now Clarence Street Theatre). As well as performing, Judy did office work for the Society, undertook organising Front of House staff, opening night and final night social functions, working Front of House, and was production secretary for a number of shows. Judy has maintained an active interest in all HOS productions through the years, as well as supporting two of her three children into theatre pursuits, and currently works Front of House for every HOS show.