East
Magpie Performers
Ipswich, Suffolk
East
Welcome to the NODA East section of our website. Geographically, our region covers the area between the Thames and the Wash, with the North Sea as the Eastern border and the A1 (approximately) as the Western one.
We have thirteen districts, each managed by a Representative with 4 Assistant Reps to support them. In addition, we have a number of other officers whose contribution to the overall management of the region is key. For full details of our team, please check out our committee page.
Our membership ranges from small drama groups, up to large Musical Theatre societies, together with many individual and joint members. Each one contributes positively to the arts and entertainment scene in their district.
I am looking forward to receiving invitations to see our members productions and to get the opportunity to meet and chat with you all.
As always, the standard of the productions in the East is something we are very proud of and I am always impressed how much our members strive to improve, year upon year. Our annual Awards Gala lunch took place on Sunday 7 April 2024 and was fully supported with a sellout. We are planning a bigger venue for next year so that more members can come along to enjoy a fantastic day of networking, socialising and congratulating award nominees and winners.
It's lovely to see that our members are, finally, getting back to normality and putting on terrific shows and plays to entertain their audiences. We are looking forward to celebrating the amazing achievements of our members.
Despite the vagaries of the recent pandemic, membership numbers in the East appear to be holding steady. We are now embarking on a programme of development to encourage new members to enjoy all the benefits that membership of NODA provides. If you are reading this to see what NODA can offer you, then please get in touch with us.
Tessa Davies
Councillor
NODA East
For the past 40 plus years Tessa has performed in many shows, taking lead roles and smaller character roles. She started directing in 1992 with She Loves Me and has been directing musical shows ever since. This injcludes Grease, The Wiz, The Likes Of Us, The Wizard of Oz, Lionel Bart’s Blitz! & Oliver! Anything Goes, Singin In The Rain and many more.
She runs 2 Stagecoach Performing Arts Schools, in South East Essex. The schools have an annual showcase which Tessa plans and directs. She is a licensed chaperone and has worked with the National Youth Music Theatre, the BBC and a number of TV production companies.