News

St Neots Players reveal story behind prime minister’s assassin The name “John Bellingham” probably rings few bells with the average passer-by on a British street – unless that person happens to be a historian or archaeology buff. The historian will likely recognise the name of the only person to ever...

The most dazzling fashion statements issued at the NODA East Regional Awards in April, were clearly the province of gentlemen attending the gala. Master of ceremonies, John Horley, gleamed in a maroon satin waistcoat patterned with flowers, while District 4 North Representative, Leslie Judd, released his spirit bird, a peacock,...

Joshua Slade was the last person to be hanged for murder in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, in a case dotted with twists and turns. Arrested for the murder of the Reverend Joshua Waterhouse in the nearby village of Stukeley, during a botched burglary, Slade initially looked likely to escape punishment for his...

We know about the horrific end of life suffered by gay university student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, USA before The Laramie Project even starts. The hours of torture and finally, his death are not the climactic moments of the three-act play in which as few as eight actors portray...

In November, the Watlington Players in Watlington, Norfolk, will pick up the gauntlet to create a show in 24 hours – with an adult pantomime as their preferred presentation. A member of the Players has written an original panto for the group and its over-18s, but Director, Kevin Rooney, isn’t...

It’s a fund-raising idea that could have come straight from the imagination of the fun-loving vicar of Dibley, Geraldine Granger, herself. To raise money for their theatre in Manningtree, Essex, the Manifest Theatre Group challenged themselves to create a stage production of the much-loved TV series, The Vicar of Dibley,...

Arguably the world’s favourite musical, The Sound of Music is synonymous with songs from high on top of the Alps, mischievous children in matching sailor blouses and shirts and lots of singing nuns. But a Spring 2024 production of  the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic, staged by VAMPS of St Neots,...

National Operatic and Dramatic Association East Region Annual General Meeting Held on Sunday,  7th April 2024 at Trinity Park, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich    AGM 2024 Minutes   1.              Welcome  - Tessa Davies, East Councillor welcomed our NODA National President Christine Hunter-Hughes and a total of 40 guests from the East and the East...

  NODA East Region Annual General Meeting Held on Sunday 16 April 2023, at The Forum, Danestrete, Stevenage, SG1 1EJ   AGM 2023 MINUTES 1.               Welcome – Tessa welcomed all those present. 2.               Present – The NODA East Committee (15 members) NODA President Nick Lawrence, NODA COO Dale Freeman, Kevin Rooney, Jen Ives, Michael...

Whether or not a panto, play or musical is in production, there’s rarely a time of year when the Hockwold Amateur Theatrical Society (HATS) in Norfolk is ‘resting’. Especially since 2018 -- when Sue Perry, a HATS management committee member, developed and ran with an idea for an entertainment programme...