We are Hamilton Operatic and Dramatic Club. Since 1903 we have been entertaining audiences throughout the local community and beyond. Originally The Hamilton Select Choir, we have come a long way through two World Wars and a pandemic, but that hasn't stopped us from continuing to deliver world class performances on the amateur stage. Over the last few years we have continued to grow as one of the most popular clubs in the area and we haven't stopped growing! We are now in the second century of bringing some of the best loved and most popular productions to the stage and we look forward to the challenge of continuing to produce musical entertainment for our audiences for many years to come.

a history

Founded in 1894 by Frederick Pugh, a prominent musician in the town of Hamilton, a double quartet was formed, which developed into St Celia's choir and later became Hamilton Select Choir. In 1904 a venture into comic opera was made with a production of "HMS Pinafore". With the success of this new direction for the club, for many years the choir continued producing Gilbert and Sullivan and light musical comedy.

In 1934 the Select Choir changed it’s name to Hamilton and District Operatic Society and gave its first performance with “Yeoman of the Guard”. After the Second World War, the society, renamed Hamilton Operatic and Dramatic Club, opened with a repeat performance of their pre-war show, “The Desert Song” in October 1947.

In 2003, the centenary year, a Service of Thanksgiving was held in St Mary’s Episcopal Church. This was followed by the highly successful Lanarkshire premier of “Jesus Christ Superstar” in May. Thereafter, club members past and present, along with dignitaries and invited guests, attended a Civic Reception as guests of the Provost and Councillors of South Lanarkshire Council in the town’s Banqueting Hall. 

previous shows

1904 HMS Pinafore

1905 Mikado

1906 Yeoman of the Guard

1907 Patience

1908 Iolanthe

1909 Gondoliers

1910 HMS Pinafore/ Trial by Jury

1911 Merrie England

1912 Utopia Limited

1913 Dorothy

1914 Mikado

The 1st World War

1920 Patience

1921 Iolanthe

1922 Pirates of Penzance

1923 Mikado

1924 Facing the Music

1925 Yeoman of the Guard

1927 Patience

1928 Gondoliers

1929 Utopia Limited

1930 Falca

1931/2 Mikado

1933 Ruddigore

1934 Yeoman of the Guard

1935 Merrie England

1936 Tom Jones

1937 Quaker Girl

1938 Arcadians

1939 Desert Song

The 2nd World War

1947 Desert Song

1948 Rose Marie

1949 New Moon

1950 Katinka

1951 Good Night Vienna

1952 Chu Chin Chow

1953 Victoria and Her Hussar

1954 Pink Champagne

1955 Geisha

1956 Oklahoma

1957 Quaker Girl

1958 Annie Get Your Gun

1959 Desert Song

1960 Free as Air

1961 Brigadoon

1962 Kismet

1963 Calamity Jane

1964 South Pacific

1965 Carissima

1966 New Moon

1967 Passion Flower

1968 Rose Marie

1969 Finian’s Rainbow

1970 The Gypsy Princess

1971 Carousel

1972 The Merry Widow

1973 Brigadoon

1974 Lilac Time

1975 Guys and Dolls

1976 Naughty Marietta

1977 Kiss Me Kate

1978 The Great Waltz

1979 The Pajama Game

1980 Call Me Madam

1981 Kismet

1982 White Horse Inn

1983 Flower Drum Song

1984 Hello Dolly

1985 Desert Song

1986 Half a Sixpence

1987 Viva Mexico

1988 Annie Get Your Gun

1989 Mame

1990 The Pajama Game

1991 On Broadway

1992 Anything Goes

1993 Brigadoon

1994 42nd Street

1995 Kiss Me Kate / Melodies Familiar

1996 Fiddler on the Roof / Swing Into Spring

1997 Hot Jazz and Blues / My Fair Lady

1998 Crazy for You

1999 Love on a Star / Guys and Dolls

2000 Me and My Girl / Pop Into Broadway

2001 Encore

2002 Copacabana / South Pacific

2003 Jesus Christ Superstar / Let's Celebrate (100 years)

2004 42nd Street / Curtain Up

2005 Anything Goes / Hello Dolly

2006 Godspell / Oklahoma

2007 Centre Stage

2008 Crazy for You / Scrooge

2009 By Popular Demand

2010 Beauty and the Beast

2011 The Producers

2012 Fiddler on the Roof / Oliver!

2013 Chess 

2014 Wizard of Oz

2015 Sister Act

2016 Me and My Girl

2017 A Musical Showcase

2018 Thoroughly Modern Millie

2019 Jesus Christ Superstar