Edwardian Operetta Exhibition at Leatherhead Theatre

As part of their first co-operative project for many years, Leatherhead Museum and Leatherhead Theatre are hosting a fascinating new exhibition at the theatre covering the town's historic amateur operatic society and its remarkable productions more than a century ago.

The operatic society was founded in 1906 by Charles Grantham, a North Street carpenter and builder, and  its productions were of a very high standard  - mainly Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. They had a good orchestra of around 20 members and were directed by Cornelius Hooker, the parish church organist and choirmaster, and for many years later by his son Bernard. The operatic society would sometimes employ a professional producer from the D’Oly Carte Company. The sets were designed and painted by the multi-talented Charles Grantham, who was also the stage manager, singer and actor.

The show is based on a unique album of photographs, cuttings and other memorabilia donated by a direct descendant of the Hooker family. It also covers the involvement of the Neates, an especially musical local family with Percy, Reginald, Beatrice, Kate and Ella all featured. Beatrice and Ella in particular were also involved with the church choir as well as the operatic society.

The Museum closes on Saturday, 9 December and will reopen on Thursday, 5 April 2018 with the official opening on 7 April. A social evening for all stewards and Museum workers will be held  from 7 for 7.30pm on Monday, 4 December in Room G6 at the Letherhead Institute.

A Century of Amateur Opera

As part of their first co-operative project for many years, Leatherhead Museum and Leatherhead Theatre will host a remarkable special exhibition from 6 November until the start of the December pantomime season. The show will cover the town's historic amateur operatic society, based on a unique album of photographs, cuttings and other memorabilia from the distant past. The album has been donated by a direct descendant of the Hooker family which helped to found the operatic society well over a century ago and held leading roles for decades afterwards.

The exhibition will also coincide with the talk on 17 November by TV personality Bamber Gascoigne on the restoration of his magnificent West Horsley Place house and estate. This now hosts the Grange Park Opera which opened this summer at the country's latest new opera house, modelled on La Scala, Milan. See Society News.

Leatherhead Museum itself marked this year's Mole Valley Heritage Open Days from 7-10 September with its own transport-related items including the story of Venthams Motor Cars. A highlight of the weekend was the restored open top horse-drawn bus which passed by on its way into Leatherhead from Dorking.

The Museum will continue to be open from now until mid-December. 1pm to 4pm on Thursday and Fridays and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays.