History

Henfield Theatre Company was formed in 1999 by the merger of Henfield Players and Henfield Choral and Operatic Society. In 2003 HTC became a registered charity.

There are records of a choral society in Henfield going back as far as 1886 performing oratorio and similar works. The Choral & Operatic Society was formed in 1961 with a new image and a fully staged performance of “The Pirates of Penzance”. The Society went on to stage a wide range of musical shows, entering the West Sussex Music Festival with some success in the past.

The Henfield Players started in 1929 and with the exception of the war years, continuously presented two or three plays a year at the old Assembly Rooms. Productions were varied and wide ranging; classics, modern comedies and dramas, newly released modern plays and of course Shakespeare. The Players entered many West Sussex Drama Festivals, reaching the finals with performances at Glyndebourne on two occasions.

In 1974 the Henfield Hall was opened and both groups then performed there.

The Henfield Theatre Company is a society dedicated to the production of plays, concerts, musicals, playreadings, workshops and associated activities for the enjoyment and education and entertainment of the members and public.

Although HTC is an amateur company, the members strive to achieve the highest possible standards and we have, in fact, won several awards in recent years for various achievements in the theatre. We are affiliated to the National Operatic and Dramatic Association, which is a charitable organisation that provides information and support to amateur theatre all over the country.

Each year, we usually produce a spring play, a musical in May, an autumn play and a Christmas entertainment (Panto or seasonal show). In addition, we usually present a Shakespeare play every two years in the summer.

In between times we hold informal play readings and musical soirées, usually in members’ homes; more formal rehearsed play readings; a musical concert and various workshops for acting, directing, makeup, etc. etc..

We have membership of about 250 people and a very robust Youth section that usually meets once a month for improvisation and workshops. An ‘in house’ show in aid of a local charity is given of their work and youngsters from this group also become involved in the plays and shows.

Throughout the year we hold various social events among which are organised theatre trips and a Christmas party.

We usually rehearse on Monday and Thursday evenings at the Henfield Hall and use the well equipped stage there to present our productions.

Under the stage is a dedicated area where we are fortunate to be able to build and paint our sets, and keep some props. We also have the facility to provide raised seating for our audience during the performances.

For further information please contact

Debbie Fields

Marketing

marketing@henfieldtheatrecompany.com