The Society was founded in 1929, in the Woolwich area by a group of musical enthusiasts headed by the legendary Helen Ladbrooke. She studied singing at Blackheath and drama at the Guildhall School of Music. In an incredible 25 years run from 1913 (elsewhere) to 1938, Helen took the lead in every show she did. With her husband Bert Williams as Secretary and Stage Manager, they started Hulviz with the show "The Street Singer" at Eltham Parish Hall, renamed Eltham Little Theatre, now the Bob Hope Theatre endowned by the Eltham born comedian. Incidentally that is where most of our recent shows have been performed. During the subsequent years the company moved to Woolwich Gerrison Theatre, Princess Theatre Crayford, the Woolwich Empire, the ABC Cinema Bexleyheath, the Greenwich Borough Hall and as now all those venues have gone, we are now happily ensconced at the Bob Hope.

The titles of some of those shows recall the period, eg. The Desert Song, The Arcadians, The New Moon, Chu Chin Chow, Showboat, Goodnight Vienna, Victoria and her Hussar, Bittersweet etc. etc. But finally the reply to a question often asked, where does the name come from ? It is from an old Anglo Saxon word meaning "a place of owls" from which the name Woolwich evolved. Since the end of the last war, when the theatres and the societies were dark, the Company together with its competitors, have used the amateur versions of American shows, eg. Carousel, The Sound of Music, adaptions of movie musicals eg. Calamity Jane, Meet Me in St. Louis, together with the classic Gilbert and Sullivan operettas which provide variety for our audiences and performers. When the late Helen Ladbrooke started this company, I am sure she had no idea how costs would rise over 15 years. Before production the aforementioned performing fees have to be paid, add to that orchestra fees, hire of halls, (for rehearsals and performance) costume and scenery hire, publicity etc. etc. Our 2004 show "Anything Goes" cost over £10,000.00!! However, we persist, funded by our membership fees and from various fundraising events. Thank you for your support and the hard work by successive producers, musical directors, stage management, costume departments and above all the many players who have graced out productions and will continue to do so in the years ahead. It is a family company for over the past 80 years, we have had grandparents, children and now grandchildren in our membership. In 2009 we changed our name to Hulviz Amateur Musical Society.
Finally, thank you our audience and here's looking forward to the next 80 years and beyond.