West Midlands - Committee

Ian G Cox

Regional Councillor / COUNCILLOR

ian.cox@noda.org.uk

In the world of amateur theatre and associated arts and music, Ian has been involved both on stage and behind the scenes for over 50 years!!! In an administrative and management capacity, Ian was chairman of Bromsgrove Operatic Society for 25 years. When in 2016 Ian became the Society President.
Being elected Regional Councillor in 2016 after only 5 years as a NODA representative has been an honour and privilege, and Ian relishes the opportunity to apply his experience and knowledge to help and encourage others.
Ian very much appreciates the strength and commitment contributed by the regional team as we seek collectively in supporting the aspirations of NODA members here in the West Midlands.
Ian and his wife Karen look forward to your invitations for your forthcoming productions.

Wendy Winterburn

REGIONAL SECRETARY / REGIONAL TREASURER

wendy.winterburn@noda.org.uk

My day job is working for a local Hereford based firm of accountants and am also Treasurer and member of Hereford Gilbert & Sullivan Operatic Society. My other hobbies include dance and singing. I am currently working towards my Grade 5 singing exam.

Louise Hickey

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District WM01)

louise.hickey@noda.org.uk

Louise has been a member of her Society (Hereford Amateur Pantomime Society) for 38 years and has directed many pantomimes during this time as well as being Chairman for a number of years before standing down, but she is currently the secretary of the society.
Lousie has been a NODA Representative for Herefordshire since 2009, and she thoroughly enjoys visiting her local societies and supporting them when she can. Lousie is a retired Contracts Manager with West Mercia Police but still work part-time for St Michael's Hospice.
Jordan W McFarlane MBCS

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE / WEBSITE EDITOR / REGIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER (District WM02)

jordan.mcfarlane@noda.org.uk

As a former member of TADLOP, Choral Director and Musical Director Jordan now taken a backseat from the limelight and amuses himself with the magical world of tech.
Jordan works his technical wizardry on the likes of Facebook and Twitter, hashtagging his way through the chaos, creating a yellow brick road to the emerald city that is social media.
Jordan knows the Internet may not be your forte, and messing around with it may lead to treble, but he's been told that he's kinda clef-er, so he hopes you'll feel safe in his hands.
Should you need some help with anything, just take a minuet and message him.
Alan Bruce

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District WM03)

alan.bruce@noda.org.uk

For those of you who don't know Alan, you may recognise his name. Alan has been writing theatre reviews for the Staffordshire Sentinel for over five years now, which in a roundabout way has led to this appointment, filling the void my predecessors created by standing down from the role.

Alan is a singer, songwriter, musician, actor, a cancer survivor, musical/comedy play-write, Staffordshire Sentinel Theatre reviewer.
Alan's theatrical history began with Gordon Alcock's Studio One group in 1983, playing Kenickie in Grease, this lead to a string of shows with the group, including their award-winning drama festivals.
Alan's wife Jan, a dancer and choreographer, also with Studio One, Newcastle Amateur Operatic Society, got the theatre bug into him shortly after meeting her in 1980.
They both spent over Twenty-Five years with Stone Little Theatre, performing, writing, the odd bit of directing, choreography.
From Alan's association with Chris Bell at Stone, he began writing theatre reviews for the Sentinel over five years ago, as part of a collective of reviewers covering both amateur and professional shows in the Stoke and surrounding areas initially.
Alan has written show scripts and has several in production at the moment. Alan has also penned and acted in a feature-length parody movie of the music business called The FocknRollers, check it out on Youtube.
Alan's main passion since the age of twelve has been performing live with bands. This came to a standstill on being diagnosed with cancer of the tongue in 2004 three weeks before Stone Little Theatre's 1980s review show 'Simply The Best', in the best theatre tradition Alan did the show before starting any treatment.
Alison Smith

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District WM04)

alison.smith@noda.org.uk

Alison has been involved in theatre for 15 years. Currently, Alison is a member of Bedworth Theatre Company, where she took the lead role of “Anne” in “A Tomb with a View” which pushed her to explore new roles.
During Alison's time within the Theatre, she has been involved in working all aspects of backstage. She has Stage-managed for “Bad Girls the Musical” which was hard work but enjoyable.
Alison has also directed 2 “Farndale Avenue” plays and “Tempest-Tossed”. These were complicated productions which used different stage types to help enhance the performance of the play. From producing these plays and the challenges they posed, Alison has learnt many new aspects of theatre that she will be using in an upcoming production of Farndale Avenue play which promises to be the most challenging yet.
As a NODA rep Alison attends various shows, meets with a wide variety of people and sees a range of diverse theatre productions, which have only increased her personal skill level as well as the appreciation for all the skills displaced within a theatrical performance.
Andy Brown

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District WM05)

andy.brown@noda.org.uk

Andy was delighted to have the opportunity to become the regional representative initially for District 12. He had a tough act to follow, with the role having previously been occupied by Ian G. Cox our regional councillor. Following a restructure across the region we amalgamated District 12 and some societies from District 5 into a new District 5 (East Worcestershire and Avon). In addition, some societies from District 10 also moved across.

During the last 30 years, Andy has worked with a number of amateur societies within Worcestershire. However, the majority of time has been with Droitwich Theatre and Arts Club at The Norbury Theatre. Whilst at the Norbury he has taken part in over 100 productions as well as having directed many plays, pantomime and a musical. Andy serves on the 'Theatre Council' where he is currently Chair of their Stage Committee.

Andy's and his wife Melanie and look forward to getting to know as many people as possible in the district and wish everyone success with their productions.
Joyce Eyre

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District WM06)

joyce.eyre@noda.org.uk

Joyce has been actively involved in amateur dramatics for over 25 years and has done everything, from backstage right through to performing and out of the other side culminating in directing for the last 10 years.
In the past Joyce was elected chairman and still now serve on the committee that said she has been told her strengths lie primarily in the organisation, ideas and development of cast members and she feel much happier partaking in the production process. Joyce also enjoys being a wardrobe mistress and doing hair.
Where productions are concerned Joyce love most musical theatre, you can't beat a good play especially a comedy!
Jean Beard

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District WM07)

jean.beard@noda.org.uk

Jean has been the NODA rep for District 7, (Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire), for over 30 years and a member of Wolverhampton Musical Comedy Company for 46 years. Her favourite job with Muscom was Property Master.
Jean has recently retired as secretary and was honoured to be elected as President of Muscom.
As a Noda rep, Jean has lost count of the number of musicals, dramas, concerts and dinners she has attended and continues to look forward to being invited to many more.
Seeing 29 different productions of “Oklahoma” is her current record for any particular show!!! It is easier to write a review online these days than when each Rep was only allowed 100 words to comment on a show, although to be honest sometimes even 100 words could be too many!!! Fortunately, not many of “her” societies come into that category.
District 7 societies have accepted the challenges of changes in theatre presentations and audience expectations, and it is a pleasure to see the youth societies developing and bringing such talent to the stage.
The West Midlands Reps are a happy bunch and in an effort to cover every invitation received we know we can call on each other to deputise. Currently, the Area Councillor Ian Cox brings order to meetings.
Dennis Price

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District WM08)

dennis.price@noda.org.uk

This year marks Dennis' 55 years in Amateur Theatre after receiving his 55 year's pin in November 2016.
Dennis' first show was in 1961 in the chorus, progressing on to principal roles moving 1978 into producing and then directing shows since then.
Dennis has been a member of the NODA West Midlands regional committee for 21 years with a small break. Over this period roles have included being editor of the Midlands area magazine, then the West Midlands magazine and two terms of office as regional representative in district 8.
Paul Douglass

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE / MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY (District WM09)

paul.douglass@noda.org.uk

Paul has been a member of the NODA West Regional Committee for over 11 years and is currently the regional representative for district 9 and also the West Midlands Regional membership secretary.
( Paul blame Jean Beard, and John Richards for getting him started in this). With three of his colleagues, he helps organise the NODA West Midlands Regional Conference and in 2016 had the pleasure in co-arranging the NODA National conference at the NEC Birmingham.

Paul became involved with amateur theatre over 25 years ago when he was invited to look after the props for a production of ‘My Fair Lady’ and has remained with the company for 21 years in the capacity of secretary and treasurer.

Four years ago Paul became Business Manager for Birmingham Youth Theatre, and he's also a director of the limited company. Birmingham Youth Theatre is just one big happy family, and he's so lucky to be involved with so many talented under 18’s.
Outside of NODA in Pauls spare time (What spare time), He enjoys to travelling (being a travel agent does help) and watching his favourite television programme – ‘Dr Who’.
Bruce Wyatt

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District WM10)

bruce.wyatt@noda.org.uk

Bruce is delighted to have been invited to succeed Trevor Guest as NODA Representative and honoured to continue the long connection with NODA that his Society WODS has had over many years.
Bruce retired from WODS main committee in April 2016 after 40 years’ service, including 9 years as Treasurer, during which period the Society purchased it's own premises and most recently 11 years as Secretary.
Bruces is very proud to have served as President of WODS, and he is now a Life Member. Bruce still performs, occasionally on stage (if the age of the role permits!). Bruce and Jenny (his wife) are looking forward to the opportunity to support more local societies.
Brian Hirst

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE (District WM11)

brian.hirst@noda.org.uk

Brian has been involved with amateur theatre for over 50 years. Throughout Brians experience within the amateur theatre, he has been in many roles whether these be as a chorus member or a principle. Brian has also had the pleasure of being the President, Chairman and Secretary of his own society. He also has been the musical director and guest conductor for several shows over this time. Brian looks forward to you welcoming him at your next production.
Emma Barnett

YOUTH ADVISER

emma.barnett@noda.org.uk
Janine Graeme

Magazine Editor

janine.graeme@noda.org.uk

Janine has been involved with theatre most of her life. As a child she spent her time in the rehearsal rooms of West Bromwich Operatic Society, growing to join their backstage teams in roles ranging from Calls, Dresser and LX, she even joined them on stage in two Barnum’s.
In 1997 Janine went pro in joining the backstage team at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, for LX, Wardrobe and joined the Marketing Department as Marketing Assistant, she became the Marketing Officer (Access) looking after accessible performances, providing patron support till 2016.
Janine has written newsletters and information guides as part of the roles, as well as Marketing and Media support for Girlguiding during the Brownie Centenary year.
Janine currently working in SEN settings gaining insights into their needs for trips and visits as well as being on the Exec Committee of the Audio Description Association.
Wyn Mason

AWARDS SECRETARY

wyn.mason@noda.org.uk

In 1961 I joined the City of Stoke-on-Trent Operatic Society as a non-playing member. During the time the Society was in existence I took on a number of administrative roles with both the adult group and its Youth Section, the main one of which I was the Wardrobe Mistress for 25 years.

I joined NODA as an individual member in the 1960s and attended my first NODA National weekend in 1968. Since then I have attended 45 of those weekends.

In 1985 I was appointed Wardrobe Manager for the NODA Operatic Summer School, and held that position until NODA closed the School.

In 1996 I became the NODA Representative for District 3 in the Midland Area, which subsequently became the West Midlands. I retired from this position in December 2013 and took on the position of Long Services Awards Secretary for the West Midlands Area.

At home I am President of Stoke Youth Musical Theatre Company.