Hounslow Light Opera has been around since 1903, which makes us one of the longest-established amateur dramatics companies in west London. We are a friendly crowd, always eager to welcome new faces.

We are mainly known as a Gilbert and Sullivan society, performing acclaimed productions of these comic operettas. In the last two years we have expanded our portfolio. Last year we took on Cole Porter and staged Anything Goes. We have also branched out into drama, with successful productions of The Importance of Being Earnest and Habeas Corpus.

Our performing year now consists of an autumn musical show, a spring play and a winter concert. Plenty to keep anybody's vocal chords busy!

There is a tremendous camaraderie in the company, and we hold a number of social events throughout the year.

We rehearse Monday evenings from 8:00 - 10:00pm at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Beavers Lane, Hounslow.

2003 sees HLOC celebrate 100 years of amateur theatre. In 1903 a group of enthusiasts, led by Sidney Rendell, the organist and choirmaster at St. Stephen's Church, Hounslow, formed an amateur operatic company dedicated to performing comic operas. The first production of the new society, "H.M.S. Pinafore," was presented at Hounslow Town Hall (today, the site of W H Smith) on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, February 8th - 10th 1904.

Our company is well knows for its tradition of Gilbert and Sullivan productions, but there have been exceptions, and even as far back as 1907, a show called "Les Cloches de Corneville," written by a Robert Planquette, was staged.

For our centenary year, and the first production at our new venue of Hampton Hill Playhouse, what other show could we have chosen but The Mikado!? The Mikado is possibly the most popular and best-loved Gilbert and Sullivan operetta of all. It was certainly one of the most popular in its day, running for a record-breaking 672 performances, and is still one of the most performed of the G&S shows.