East Midlands
Performance Hub
Ranskill, Nottinghamshire
East Midlands
Welcome to the East Midlands Region of the NODA website. The East Midlands region of NODA covers seven counties: Buckinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, and Rutland. It includes traditionally industrial cities like Leicester, Nottingham, and Derby, the new town of Milton Keynes, and the large and largely rural county of Lincolnshire.
We have some old-established societies, such as Northampton Musical Theatre, founded in 1898, Stamford Amateur Operatic Society, which started in 1905, and the Spalding Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society, founded in 1870, the region has one of the very oldest amateur societies in the United Kingdom. But we also have newer groups like Bonkers from Kettering and the magnificently named Eccentric Penguin Productions from Derby. This also reflects a more recent trend in the organisation of drama groups, either led by an individual or working as a small collective - like Marde Hen from Belper, who specialise in new writing. Some groups like Heckington Players have an in-house writer Kei Bailey, and Waddington Dramatic Society have their own MD (Robert Steadman) who writes bespoke music fo ther productions, what a luxury that is!
There is a diversity of venues - the magnificent Theatre Royal in Nottingham and the boldly designed Curve in Leicester but also small theatres such as Retford's Little Theatre, Sleaford Little Theatre, and the Lion Theatre, Horncastle, built by its members in a pub car park - as well as the Royal and Derngate in Northampton which combines a 20th-century theatre with a Victorian one. But as everywhere else, venues are becoming more expensive, and some are now out of the reach of amateur theatre companies - a challenge for the future in common with all regions.
I have over 40 years experience of amateur dramatics. Music Hall, choirs, pantomimes, musicals and plays.
I have lived in Surrey, West Sussex and now Lincolnshire. I have probably been involved with 10 different dramatic societies or choirs over the years and been a member of NODA for the almost 20. I have taken on many roles within the societies I have been a member of, both on and off the stage. I particularly enjoy directing, but can turn my hand to set design, backdrop painting, lighting and my favourite hobby is making props and costumes. I used to dance and can appreciate challenges in choreography as well as directing music based shows. When I get an opportunity to act I tend to throw myself into the role and enjoy experimenting with a character and imagining a whole backstory to enable me to give the best performance. Even with a non-speaking walk-on role! I find myself getting involved with fund raising and the running of the society I belong to, currently Secretary for St Nicolas Players who recently became a charity. I have also acted for medical based emergency training scenarios and GP training for which I travel all over the UK.
Being involved with NODA is an opportunity to experience productions and shows from many other groups, to get to know theatrical communities, and meeting with amateurs who share my passion for the craft. It is also a privilege to pass on my experience in the form of a show report which will hopefully be appreciated by all members of NODA and the societies involved.