NODA Scotland Conference 2024

NODA SCOTLAND CONFERENCE
25-27 October 2024
Peebles Hydro

Bookings for this year's NODA Scotland conference are now open. 

For full details click here. To book click here. For the cancellation policy click here.

The NODA Scotland committee is delighted to announce that once again the NODA Scotland Conference will be held at Peebles Hydro from 25-27 October. This year marks our 70th consecutive conference at the Hydro. Over the past few months, the NODA Scotland committee has been working hard to put together another wonderful weekend building on the success of previous years based on feedback received and suggestions made by members.

Following the success of the online booking form last year we have continued with this again for 2024 – https://form.jotform.com/240975823716364 Simply click on the link to take you to the form which will capture all the necessary information and also has details about how to pay the relevant fees. The form also sets out the updated cancellation policy we have in place given the significant number of cancellations last year. Please complete the form on a laptop/computer and not a mobile phone to ensure all necessary fields are completed.

Once again, the weekend has a varied programme of workshops, a gala dinner with guest speaker, midnight cabaret and late-night sing-a-long as well as the results of the programme and poster competition. There will also be a varied mix of theatrical suppliers and rights holders exhibiting all weekend and plenty of opportunities to network with members from all over Scotland as well as meeting NODA President Graham Liverton (NODA South West).

If you enjoy conference weekend but feel it is over too quickly why not consider booking an extra night or even nights. Details about these are in the attached booking pack which is also available to download from the website and Facebook page. Arriving on the Thursday is a great way to start the weekend with a relaxing night and avoid the rush of the Friday check in. To guarantee the same room for the duration of your stay please ensure you have submitted your booking by 31 May.

Over the past few years, it has been great to see numbers attending the weekend grow significantly. Based on conversations I have had whilst travelling around the country seeing shows in recent weeks that looks like it is going to continue again this year. To avoid having to disappoint members the committee is asking, that where possible, delegates share rooms to ensure we can accommodate the maximum number of members. Wouldn’t it be great to have the house full sign out this year. To this end bookings for the Saturday gala dinner overnight package will not be allocated until after 30 September with no guarantee there will still be spaces – so if you want to make sure of a place book for the full weekend.

To provide additional capacity we have also reserved rooms at the Hydro’s sister hotel The Park on the main street in Peebles. If we reach capacity at the Hydro you will be allocated a room there and there will be a box on the booking form to tick if you are willing to accept this as an alternative. You will still be involved in the full weekend and have all meals at the Hydro with others from you club.

Once again there will be a second dining room in the Bannockburn Room for all meals over the weekend. There is an option on the booking form to request to be seated there. It makes the job of allocating seating so much easier if groups would consider taking their turn in the Bannockburn room.

The best advert for our conference is you the members who have attended in the past. Please encourage new delegates along. It really would be great to see more clubs from across the country represented – at present only around 30% of clubs attend.

Friday night sees the return of fancy dress with the theme of “the musical in my mind”. A chance to be creative and allows delegates to perhaps dress up as a character they have always wanted to play or for a group to come as characters from a musical they have always wanted to perform.

The NODA Scotland committee look forward to welcoming you to Peebles Hydro in October and thank you for your ongoing support, not just of the conference but, for NODA and all we are doing to help support amateur theatre here in Scotland.

Stuart McCue-Dick
NODA Scotland Councillor