Mrs Constance Clucas, a talented musician in the Holy Trinity choir, started 'The Surrey Hills Operatic Society' in 1931. She trained members of the Society to concert standard. Mrs Clucas produced operettas for some ten years. Titles included 'The Arcadian', 'Princess Ju Ju', 'The Quaker Girl', and 'Miss Hook of Holland'. Local musicians formed the orchestra which was extended for the concert presentation by a few guest artists among whom were locals Marion de Saxe, a flautist, and Fred McBeath. Rehearsals were held in the Surrey Hall and a small Canterbury Road Lodge Hall with final staging in the Surrey Hall and Camberwell Town Hall. Scores and costumes were hired from J. C. Williamson.The photo is reflective of the cultural life of Surrey Hills in the 1930s.A sepia coloured photograph of a lady standing in a garden dressed in a peasant looking outfit and holding a (?) feather duster. She is wearing a hat in traditional Dutch-style.(mrs) constance clucas, holy trinity choir, churches, surrey hills, (ms) marion de saxe, (mr) fred mcbeath, the surrey hall, canterbury road lodge hall, (mrs) ethel cerini, camberwell town hall, surrey hills operatic society, 1930-1939

"Miss Hook of Holland" is a musical comedy (described as a "Dutch Musical Incident") in two acts, with music and lyrics by Paul Rubens and book by Austen Hurgon and Rubens. It opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, on 31 January 1907, and had a successful run of 462 performances. A synopsis of the plot can be found at https://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_m/miss_hook_holland.htm This was one of a number of productions of the Surrey Hills Amateur Operatic Society during the 1930s. The society formed in 1931 and its first production was "The Cingalee", followed in 1932 by "The Arcadians". Other productions were "Princess Ju-Ju", "The Quaker Girl", "The Hook of Holland" and "The Country Girl". Apart its cultural and social importance, the aim of the Society was to raise funds for charity. Mrs Constance Clucas was a driving force behind the productions. A comprehensive account of the society's activities is found in 'A history of Surrey Hills' Sporting clubs and Cultural Groups" by Ken James. This and other programs of the Surrey Hills Amateur Operatic Society provide insight into the cultural life of Surrey Hills in the 1930s.Cream-coloured stapled program printed in brown of a musical comedy in 2 acts. Includes a cast list and committee of the Surrey Hills Amateur Operatic Society, a synopsis of the play, a list of the musical items, photos of Mrs P D Clucas and Mr Norman Lee and a number of ads for local and city businesses."J Hall" signed on back in ink or biro; Norman Lee has signed his photo in ink.camberwell town hall, operetta, miss hook of holland, tanner and monckton, surrey hills amateur operatic society, j c williamson ltd, surrey hills baby health centre, alfred hospital, orthopaedic hospital, surrey hills orchestra, anne's pantry, surrey hall, entertainment, fundraising, musical events and activities, miss cook, mr j colquhoun, h e witchell, a h chenu, norman lee, jean gordon, wilfred darby, jeanette mcdowell, ronald isherwood, howard p denny, miss phyllis heitsch, una v blaikie, howard burnett, jack chapman, winifred broderick, gladys marshall, scyla cocking, harold g brett, harry cocking, aubrey pearce, william morrison, muriel middleton, barbara brigdon, jessie collins, ethel cerini, isabel callaghan, florrie doreian, violet ebbels, jessie fethers, margot gordon, jean robinson, gordon lavender, marjory gordon, grace linford, mollie middleton, eileen middleton, muriel marshall, gladys oliver, mary scragg, beryl scragg, nina sinclair, jean wearne, gladys roberts, rose pearse, jean douglass, jessie powys, mabel thomas, violet abery, roy brian, herbert darby, wilfred harley, robert rowse, jack walker, fred williams, george duncan, mrs g d clucas, mrs p d blaikie, miss w h duncan, mrs g d grover, mrs b collins, miss m harley, mr r cocking, mr h colton, ada walton, mrs c colquoun, program, ephemera