NODA President

My final post as I prepare to go down to the AGM and formally hand over the reins (and the Chain) to Graham. I just wanted to say thank you all SO much to all the Societies I was able to get to see, thank you for inviting me, but especially for making me so very welcome and including me in your NODA family for the duration of my visit. Thank you to all the casts and crews who have remained on the stage to enable me to have a photo taken and so make a photographic memory of a simply wonderful year. Thank you all so very, very much

Explore 125 years of NODA history, from our humble beginnings to wartime challenges, overcoming familiar obstacles, and looking ahead to the future of amateur theatre. This magazine not only celebrates the past but also serves as a starting point for NODA's next chapter. Here's to the next 125 years!

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Thursday 26th September with Sharnbrook Mill Theatre for their production of The Girl on the Train, and what a wonderful production as my final performance as President. A straight play that kept the entire audience gripped for the entire production. Wonderful characterisations and superb acting and presence. Pace was just perfect and I loved 'the picture' (you had to see it to know) what a superb idea. Added to that a trip around their theatre, I even got to see the original mill wheel, their frankly astonishing costume and props store which would be the envy of just about Society I have ever visited. Thank you so much for inviting me to to a simply superb and gripping production brilliantly acted, a tour round your frankly fantastic theatre of which I know you are justly proud, it was a truly wonderful evening to end my presidency. Thank you all SO VERY much.
The production is on at The Sharnbrook Mill Theatre until Saturday and I would urge you to go and see it if you possibly can.

Wednesday 25th September with Melyncrythan MTC (in Port Talbot) to see their production of Rock of Ages, (as it happens my penultimate production), and what an extravaganza it was!! The energy and enthusiasm was way up in the stratosphere and was so infectious. With all the wonderful larger than life characters, brought to life in front of us. A super evening!! Thank you SO much for inviting me, it was a wonderful evening.
It's on for the remainder of this week at The Princess Royal Theatre in Port Talbot staring at 7.00. (Guess who thought it was 7.30? But fortunately, mainly in view of in inclement weather we set off very early and so arrived in plenty of time). Break a leg for the rest of the run and thank you again.

Tuesday 26th September with Showcase in Edinburgh for their spring concert. Frankly the whole thing was just amazing. A slick and fast running concert, with a huge and very eclectic variety of tunes so there really was something for everyone. The singing and dancing, not to mention the arm-ography was absolutely amazing moving fast from one number to the next. How and when you managed all those costume changes is quite beyond me. On top of that, you have raises some £349.000 for Macmillan since your inception in 1991. What a simply wonderful achievement. Thank you so very much for inviting me, and sharing your fantastic work.
They are on at the Church Hill Theatre for the rest of the week, with 2 productions on Saturday, so if you can please go along and see this fabulous concert as well as supporting the great work they do.

Saturday 21st September with Quarry Bank MTS Youth (Stourbridge) for their production of Bugsy Malone. Just great fun. SO much splurging, and with such enthusiasm. The whole production just bounced with energy and enthusiasm with some great characterisation and singing. Costumes including hair and shoes very in period. Thank you SO much for inviting me. It was a super afternoon which I enjoyed very much.
Sorry, you missed it last night was tonight but they are doing Out House in June!!!

Friday 20th September with Dramatic Society for their production of Curtain Up on Murder. My love for a straight play is well known, and this interesting play, with a corkscrew ending was no exception. Some really good characterisations, and superbly appropriate set dressing made the evening a real pleasure, from beginning to end. Many, many thanks for inviting me, and congratulations once more.
Last performance is a Matinee at 2.30 today in Codsall Village Hall if you were able to get to see it.

Thursday 19th September with Stamford Show Stoppers to see their production of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, another show I had not seen before and what show it was. Just bursting with colour, life and enthusiasm, just wonderful. SO many people presenting a great show. Thank you SO much for inviting me I had a great evening, and it looked as if you did too.
On at the Corn Market Theatre, Stamford until Saturday.

Wednesday 18th September with Todmorden AODS for their production of Growth. A double pleasure as this was not a play I had seen or heard of before, and it was very funny. Lots of laugh out loud moments. Played in the round, some great characterisations, congrats also to the crew, lots of on and off with props. Thank you so much for inviting me and, as always, for making me so very welcome.
It on at The Todmorden Hippodrome until Saturday, so lots of time to go and see for yourself.

Monday 16th September with The Grange Players (Walsall) to see their production of Educating Rita. A great portrayal of this iconic play. Great characterisations, with a wonderful set and lighting plot. A really interesting and very enjoyable evening. Thank you so much for inviting me.
The play runs for the remainder of the week, so you still have time to go and see it at The Grange Playhouse, North Walsall.

Saturday 14th September with Stavely Amateur Operatic Society (near Kendal) for their production of Iolanthe. A great evening, great characterisations and wonderful singing. Thank you also for inviting me to attend your 'after show bash'. The whole thing was a smashing evening, which I throughly enjoyed. Many, many congratulations too on your 70th Anniversary. Just a wonderful evening, thank you so much for a great show, and for inviting me to share it with you.

Friday 13th September with Centenary Theatre Company in Runcorn, for their production of The Girl on the Train. Just spectacular!!! The Studio at the Brindley was sold out and the cast held the audience in total silence for the entire play, hanging on to their every word. The cast were tremendous, every single one of them, with simply superb characterisations, we were all spellbound. The subject matter means it's hardly a play you can say you enjoyed, but it was simply amazing and the cast absolutely fantastic. It closes tonight but if you can get to see it please go, it's fantastic. Thank you so very much for inviting me, it was superb.

Wednesday 11th September with Thomson-Leng Musical Society for their production of The Addams Family. Really great characterisations, good singing, wonderful ancestors and loved 'the tap routine'. All in all a really great evenings entertainment. Thank you SO much for inviting me.
It's running at The Whitehall Theatre, Dundee up to and including Saturday so plenty if time for you to book and go and see it. It's worth it I promise!!!

Monday 9th September at Oldbury Rep. for their production of Shirley Valentine. Those of you who know the play will be aware that it is a one-hander, so pics show myself with the titular character, and just as a reminder, a photo with the crew and back stage team!! It takes a real skill and skillful actor to keep the audience interested and involved for 2 hours (42 pages of words) but Jo did it, with k***s on. Thank you all SO much to all involved for inviting me and for a wonderful evening.
The production runs up to and including 14th September do go and see it if you can it's wonderful.

Saturday 7th September with Fledgling Musical Theatre Company in Dumfries for their production of Labours of Love, a musical, written by Ren Forteath, a founder member of the group. A very unusual musical essentially about a life in a labour ward, with all the joy and sorrow thatcsurrounds it. Scored for piano and drums. I love seeing something original, which this was, and I very much enjoyed it. Some good singing, with a dedicated and enthusiastic casr. Great characters portrayed with enthusiasm and sympathy. Thank you so much for inviting me to see it, it was a most interesting and very enjoyable visit.
Sorry, their run has finished now, but if you are looking to perform something new and a bit different to perform..........

Friday 6th September with Act 1 Youth (in Hawick) to see their production of Beauty and The Beast, where 37 youg people entertained us brilliantly with an energetic and enthusiastic rendition of this great story. Great singing and dancing, and a wonderful stage crew who whisked us through the many and varied scenes. Some great renditions of the famous characters, really well portrayed. Thank you so much for inviting me and sharing this very special production with me.
It's the last performance this afternoon. Ar Hawick Town Hall.

Thursday 5th September with Dryburn Theatrical Workshops for their production of 'Allo, 'Allo (2) The Camembert Caper another entertaining visit to Cafe Rene. An hilarious evening with some great familiar characters, really well portrayed, with lots and lots of laugh out loud moments. Some inventive settings to accommodate the many and varied scenes. Very well done to everyone concerned, a super evenings entertainment which I (and the rest audience appeared to share my view) throughly enjoyed. Thank you SO much for inviting me, and for allowing me to join you for your after show party.
Last night tonight, on at Park View Theatre, Chester-le-Street. Do go and see it if you can

Wednesday 4th September with Whitehaven Theatre Group for their production of Stepping Out. I had forgotten what a great show this is! Whitehaven certainly did it justice! Lots and lots of laugh out loud moments, some simply superb characterisations and great tap dancing to boot. SO impressed as we watched the dancing 'improve' during the duration of the play to the grand finale, and it certainly was a superb finale. Thank you SO much Whitehaven for inviting us and, as always, making us so very welcome.
If you can, go and see it, a great evening out and laugh out loud moments a plenty.on at The Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven up to and including Saturday.

Tuesday 3rd September with Criccieth Starlight Players to celebrate their 50 year anniversary with a wonderfully eclectic mix of scenes and song which covered their 50 year history. It was a wonderful evening, with so much variety including pantomime, sketches, excepts from plays and songs. The whole show was an absolute pleasure, great singing and dancing, lots of humour, great costumes and innumerable costume changes. Well done everyone for a great show, and for 50 years entertaining local audiences. Here's to the next 50 years and thank you for inviting me and allowing me to share it with you.

Monday 2nd September with BODS (Barrow Operatic and Dramatic Society) for the Dress and Tec Rehearsal of their production of Everybody'sTalking about Jamie! Before I say anything about the show I want to congratulate the Society as a whole as with only 4 weeks to go before their anticipated opening night, their usual venue had to be closed. Nothing daunted, they moved the show forward a week, and arranged a totally different venue some 8 miles south of the original. What a simply marvellous achievement! Well done to all concerned! Not only that, but it was a great show, the young cast were bursting with enthusiasm. Some great characterisations, fab dancing, great singing, super costumes and a good orchestra. What more could anyone want? Many congratulations to every single person connected with this show. Thank you SO much for inviting me, and allowing the photo.
Please if you can, go and see it and support the Society. On at The Coronation Hall, Ulverston, opening tonight, last performance Saturday Matinee. (No performance Saturday night).

Saturday 17th August back with PB Theatricals (in Bakewell) to see another 'production in a week' this time, of HMS Pinafore with a totally different group, these aged from 8 to 18! From a personal point of view, I am just SO pleased that younger people are gaining an interest in G & S and positively thrilled that THEY enjoy it so much and are proud to take part! Another great production with some fabulous singing and great characterisations. Thank you once more PB for inviting me again and allowing me to share the occasion with you. Sorry everyone, their last performance is today, so unless you just happen to be in or around Chapel-en-le-Frith this afternoon you have missed it.