East Midlands
Think You Can
Market Harborough, Leicester
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.
The East Midlands region is home to a vibrant and diverse community of amateur theatre enthusiasts. Supporting hundreds of societies across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, and Rutland, NODA East Midlands is committed to nurturing creativity, encouraging excellence, and celebrating the passion that drives local theatre.
As part of NODA’s nationwide network, the East Midlands region provides guidance, training, and recognition to help amateur performers, directors, designers, and backstage teams grow and flourish. Whether through workshops, regional awards, or society visits, NODA champions the dedication and hard work that go into every production—from intimate plays to large-scale musicals.
With a proud history and a forward-looking approach, NODA East Midlands continues to support and inspire the amateur theatre community, ensuring that the performing arts remain accessible, inclusive, and thriving across the region.
Amanda is an award winning freelance writer/director. Trained as a dancer, Amanda performed in many theatres across the East Midlands. She has worked for Sky on several info-commercials and has recorded with BBC Radio 2. Amanda worked for Nottingham Playhouse for many years including with the Nottingham Playhouse Company, Ensemble & TIE/Participation. Amanda has been the NODA East Midlands Youth Co-ordinator for nearly 20 years and has recently been appointed as Regional Councillor.
Professional Credits include: Producer/Writer/Director for Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Aladdin, Beauty & the Beast (Nottingham Arts Theatre); Director for West Side Story, Legally Blonde, Grease, Sister Act, Shrek (Theatre Royal, Nottingham); Movement Director for Princess & the Frog, Hare & the Tortoise (Nottingham Playhouse Company); Little Mermaid Jnr, Bugsy Malone, Grease, Love & Information, Animal Farm, Paradise, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Mix Up by Moonlight, Kisses On A Postcard, Our Day Out (Nottingham Playhouse TIE/Participation); Workshop Leader for Romeo & Juliet (Poznan, Poland); Director for Summer Holiday, Thoroughly Modern Millie, West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Me & My Girl (Carlton Operatic Society, Nottingham Playhouse); Director for Mame, My Fair Lady, Half A Sixpence (Newark Palace Theatre).
Writing Credits include: Puss in Boots, Sleeping Beauty, Robin Hood & the Babes in the Wood, Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Jack & the Beanstalk, Aladdin, Beauty & the Beast, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Film & Television Credits include: Panto! (Jeanie Finlay & Glimmer films)
Other Theatre Credits include: 20 years as Director/Producer for Spotlight Theatre Arts CIC, Sister Act, Legally Blonde, Lady In the Van, A Chorus Line, History Boys, Our House
Amanda has previously managed a hotel, a theatre and was also a primary school governor for 20 years.