Scotland - Committee
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Stuart McCue-DickRegional Councillor / WEBSITE EDITORstuart.dick@noda.org.uk
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Ian GrayREGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District SC01)ian.gray@noda.org.uk
Apparently always singing, my first stage experiences were with Life Boys — now renamed as Boys’ Brigade Junior Section. In later years, BB meant pantomime or ‘sketches’, allowing what we called ‘acting’! It also meant “BB Fanfare”, the equivalent of Scouts’ Gang Show, and my first big stage, in Theatre Royal, Glasgow, just before STV took that theatre over. The second year was in Glasgow Empire, dreaded by Mike and Bernie Winters and other professionals, now destroyed, as was third year’s Alhambra Theatre. The bug had bitten hard, and when my dentist suggested joining Glasgow’s Lyric Club (he was President) I jumped at the chance. Oklahoma! was my first show, joining with performers I had watched from the audience for years. In tears after the final performance, I asked “What’ll I do next week?” and someone said “Come to Glasgow Light”, which I did, doing both Clubs’ shows for many years.
Eventually, work pressure meant sacrificing one Club, and Glasgow Light OC (GLOC) became my main Club, and still is, 53 years later! mainly in King’s Theatre, Glasgow. Job-wise, one boss was heavily into Pantheon Club, which suggested that I also join that for a year or two, with a slightly different stable of shows, all adding to experience. A vacancy as NODA’s REG.Rep. came up, and that altered direction again, to an extent, but I still try, health permitting, to perform with GLOC, whilst still thoroughly enjoying attending other shows as ‘NODA Man’. The welcome from other clubs to fellow afficionadas never ceases to please me, so keep it up, folks, it helps us all.
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Roger BuistREGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District SC02)
roger.buist@noda.org.uk
ROGER BUIST has been a member of Dundee’s Downfield Musical Society for 60 years and has played many major roles in the company’s stage productions, as well as directing many of the company’s shows, and appeared for over 40 years as the Society’s Panto Dame. He directed many of their musical productions, and his production of “Godspell” was runner-up in the Waterford International Music Festival. He is the society’s Honorary Vice President and a Life Member.
Roger also directed Dundee’s annual Scout Gang Show for over 30 years, for which he wrote many comedy sketches, and was awarded Scouting’s highest Award the Silver Wolf.
He has directed many other stage shows for other Societies in the Dundee area and, in his “spare” time, has written several pantomimes. He became NODA Regional Rep for the Dundee Area in 2003 and holds the NODA Diamond and Gold Long Service Medal.
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Elizabeth DonaldREGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District SC03)
elizabeth.donald@noda.org.uk
I have been involved with amateur dramatics then musicals for about 40 years. My first forays on stage were principal roles in Scottish plays like Johnny Jouk the Gibbet which I played by default when the leading lady withdrew at the last minute! I helped direct pantomime then directed Oliver! I moved to live in Falkirk and felt a bit lost. A musical friend of mine suggested I join Falkirk Operatic Society to make friends which I did and have never looked back.
My first show was Viva Mexico and I just adored the part singing and all the fun. By April 2017, I will have been 35 years with FOS and have loved being with like-minded people who sing and dance and act and care about amateur theatre. Strangely my first minor role with FOS was Mrs Sowerberry in Oliver! I have enjoyed a number of minor roles over the years including the wonderful Fruma Sarah from Fiddler on the Roof and more recently had a small and comic part as the Dowager Queen in the Noda show The Slipper and The Rose. Yet I’m just as happy in the chorus which is just as necessary as any main role.
As well as being on stage, I found myself sought after for administrative roles in the society. I was elected to the committee and have served in a variety of roles, publicity, programmer, concert convener and so on and been President on two separate occasions totalling nine years. For my sins I am currently Treasurer and Honorary Vice President.
These experiences have seen me involved with all aspects and difficulties facing societies. Consequently when I was approached to consider the position of Noda District 3’s Regional Representative I felt I could give back something to amateur theatre. So this is my sixth year in this role and wonderful and privileged it is to see the fantastic and very professional shows my local groups perform. Long may societies, and the pleasure they bring to their communities, continue.
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David BlackREGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District SC05)
david.black@noda.org.uk
David was elected Regional Representative for NODA District 5 in 2009. He has been associated with the amateur theatre for over 30 years playing principal roles and also as accompanist and Musical Director. David actively supports the development of Societies within his district through regular meetings, and in organising practical skills based workshops. David is also a Past-President of Hamilton Operatic and Dramatic Club.
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Dorothy JohnstoneREGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District SC06)
dorothy.johnstone@noda.org.uk
Born in Aberdeen (quite a long time ago) Dorothy reckons she knew the words of most of the G&S songs as well as she knew her nursery rhymes as both parents were members of the Aberdeen Opera Company so an interest in amateur theatre was very much part of her upbringing. She too performed with Aberdeen Opera Company and Aberdeen Lyric before moving to Hong Kong where she performed with the Hong Kong Singers. Arriving in Edinburgh in1980 she joined the Southern Light Opera company and has appeared in all but 3 of their productions since then. She has also appeared with other Edinburgh companies and has played many fabulous leading roles in G&S. Operettas and musicals old and new. She also has a keen interest in Drama and has performed in many plays.
In her younger days she enjoyed playing the young ingénue such as The Quaker Girl, Anne (Anne of Green Gables) Mi ( Land of Smiles), or soubrettes such as Adele (Die Fledermaus) Valencienne (The Merry Widow ) Manon ( Land of Smiles) but more recently has played more character roles her favourites being Anna (King and I) Mrs. Blitztein (Blitz), Felicia Gabrielle (Witches of Eastwick) Yente (Fiddler on the Roof,) Mrs. Potts (Beauty and The Beast) Mother Superior ( Sister Act ) to name but a very few.
One regret-She has never appeared in My Fair Lady and would loved to have played Eliza but no chance now. You can,t have an Eliza with a bus pass!!
As well as performing Dorothy has always been actively involved on committees and has been president of Musical societies in Edinburgh .
In 2009 she was elected NODA Regional Rep for Edinburgh and the Lothians a position she thoroughly enjoys. Having received her NODA award for 50 years service to Amateur Theatre she feels she has the knowledge and experience to support and encourage companies in her district, particularly the youngsters who are the future of Amateur Theatre.
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Mike PendlowskiREGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE / MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY (District SC07)
mike.pendlowski@noda.org.uk
Mike has been involved with theatre and event lighting for fifty years. From humble beginnings lighting school shows, Mike progressed to Director of his own lighting hire company based in Dunfermline. Need for a change took him to Northern Light, Edinburgh, as an Event Project Manager, counting Scottish Royal events as part of his remit. Latterly, Mike spent six years as Head of Lighting and Sound at the “theatre in the hills” – Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Retiral from here lasted approximately two weeks before returning to his original work as a freelance theatre lighting designer, adding even more professional and non-professional shows to his CV. Around this work he also manages to fit in his other hobby of travelling. Mike’s wife Alison is, by day, a Speech and Language Therapist in Tayside Region – but is also an excellent DSM! Finally, keeping theatre in the family, daughter Helen finds herself more and more involved as a Stage Manager, whilst also coping with her work as a Mineralogist, based in Aberdeen.
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Douglas ClarkREGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District SC09)
douglas.clark@noda.org.uk
I began performing on the amateur stage with Stilring and Bridge of Allan Operatic society in 1980 before moving to Stonehaven in 1986, performing with several groups in the Aberdeen and North East Area since. In 2008 I was appointed Regional Rep for Grampian, Highlands and Islands and enjoy immensely the visits to societies in the area from Stonehaven to Lerwick.
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Stewart CameronREGIONAL TREASURER / REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District SC11)
stewart.cameron@noda.org.uk
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Calum CampbellYOUTH ADVISER
calum.campbell@noda.org.uk
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Alan JonesMagazine Editor
alan.jones@noda.org.uk
Like a number of people my interest in theatre began at secondary school, influenced and inspired by the teachers who directed and conducted productions in which I was an enthusiastic cast member. I like to think that in turn I managed to inspire an enthusiasm for the theatre in many young people during my career in education.
After school and university productions there followed a playing career of about ten years in which this young man in his 20s was regularly cast as a “character” well beyond his playing age. (Was someone trying to tell me something?)
However, my theatrical epiphany occurred in the mid 70s – for the avoidance of doubt I am talking about the 1970s, not personal chronology – when I moved into direction. Companies across Scotland have been kind enough to engage me (and more importantly, ask me back) for over 160 shows in a variety of theatres, including 50 productions directed in the King’s Theatre, Glasgow.
I have been a member of the NODA Scotland Committee since 2010, serving as the Editor of NODA Scotland Magazine and Scottish correspondent of the UK wide NODA Today.
I had the great pleasure of undertaking the role of After Dinner Speaker at the NODA Scotland Conference at Peebles in 2014.