The parent body of the local Light Opera Society was the Hebden Bridge Labour Choral and Operatic Choir, first formed under the name of a Labour choir during the Great War.

It was founded by a group of Labour people when they had a Trades Club in Hollins Place. Its object was providing entertainments at social and public meetings arranged by the Labour Party.

A number of such entertainments were given and it was found that there was much musical talent amongst the members and in 1918 it was decided to give an experimental production of a comic operetta.

"The Nautical Knot" was selected, rehearsals commenced twelve months ahead and this production given in 1919 marked the beginning of a long list of musical successes.

The initial name gave rise to inaccurate belief that the society was a political body and so in 1925 the name was changed to its present one. Not only did the society provide a high standard of entertainment for the local public but in its first twenty years of existence had been doing splendid work on behalf of local charities.

Altogether the society had raised about £1,000 for charitable purposes. From 1927 to 1938 inclusive the society raised a further £857 of which some was given to the Royal Halifax Infirmary, the Hebden Bridge Nursing Institution, Hebden Bridge Old Folks' Treat and Hebden Bridge Blind and Cripples' Treat.

In 1938 when becoming of age, the society opened its new headquarters and rehearsal rooms in Bond Street, Hebden Bridge.

The rooms had been converted in a clothing warehouse and all the work had been carried out by the members. It comprised of a large hall, committee room, cloakroom and a well equipped kitchen.At one end of the large hall - which had seating for 150 - was a small stage on which rehearsals were carried out.

Halfway through rehearsals for "The Arcadians" in 1939 war broke out and annual shows were suspended. But throughout the hostilities members gave a variety of charity shows in the area and in 1946 full musical performances were resumed.The Fifties proved a difficult time with dwindling audiences and in 1958 the society committee called off its show.

Under a new regime a shoestring production of "The Desert Song" went ahead the following year and brought new confidence. A turbulent period followed, for after breaking box office records with "South Pacific" the society learned that its "home", the Co-op Hall, was to close and no other suitable auditorium presented itself.

Hebden Royd Urban Council eventually offered to help out by providing £700 of the £1,200 needed to adapt Hebden Bridge Picture House for theatrical performances. The society worked hard to raise the £500 in four months and moved in with a production of "The Student Prince" in 1966. Two years later the Golden Jubilee arrived with an overdraft of £850 and a £200 loss on the previous year's show. Rehearsal rooms were sold to raise capital and the fight to continue began again.