Committee - West Midlands

• 
  Andy Brown

  Regional Councillor / Councillor / Volunteer

  andy.brown@noda.org.uk

  Having served for five years as Regional Representative for district five I am delighted to now be undertaking the role of Regional Councillor following our former Councillor Ian G Cox becoming Chairman of NODA.

  During the last 30 years, I have worked with several amateur societies within Worcestershire. However, most of the time has been with Droitwich Theatre and Arts Club at The Norbury Theatre. Whilst at the Norbury I have taken part in about 125 productions as well as having directed many plays, pantomimes and a musical. I serve on the 'Theatre Council' where I am currently Chair of their Stage Committee.

  I am delighted to be seeing more and more groups starting up again after the last two awful years we have experienced. Each member of the committee looks forward to sharing the rewards of your hard work within their respective districts. I along with my wife Melanie hope to be able to visit each society in time and would welcome invites to attend shows or other events you hold.

  In the meantime, I look forward to meeting as many people as possible at the Regional Conference and AGM in July.
• 
  Wendy Winterburn

  Regional Secretary / Regional Treasurer / Volunteer

  wendy.winterburn@noda.org.uk

  When Wendy is not working her day job as a Receptionist at a small firm of Accountants in Hereford she is an active member of the Hereford Gilbert & Sullivan Operatic Society and has been for 20 years.  Besides being an active member she has also held the positions of Secretary, Membership Secretary and Treasurer. She is currently Editor of the Society Newsletter.

  Wendy was NODA West Midlands Regional Secretary for a few years before also taking on the mantle of Regional Treasurer from Michael Hastilow and has held the positions jointly since.

  When Wendy is not working or performing on stage she enjoys dance classes and also her singing lessons.
• 
  Brian Jackson

  Regional Representative (District WM01)

  brian.jackson@noda.org.uk
• 
  Robin Cooper

  Regional Representative / Volunteer (District WM02)

  robin.cooper@noda.org.uk

  Some of you may already know Robin Cooper who, for more than 35 years, has been involved in local amateur theatre in Shropshire.  His vast experience has been gained as an actor, singer and dancer onstage but also stage crew, lighting designer, director and set designer behind the scenes. Robin has performed with Telford, Bridgnorth, Donnington, Horsehay and Shrewsbury societies. Robin has taken on nearly every Committee role so has a comprehensive wealth of knowledge and understanding of staging all types of performance. Robin looks forward to working with you all over the next coming months. 
• 
  Alan Bruce

  Regional Representative / Volunteer (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 / Volunteer (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.

   
• 
  Joyce Eyre

  Regional Representative / Volunteer (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!
• 
  Ann Escritt

  Regional Representative / Awards Secretary / Volunteer (District WM07)

  ann.escritt@noda.org.uk

  Ann was brought up by parents who had an active, lifelong involvement with musical theatre in Wolverhampton. She trained as a dancer from the age of three when she first experienced performing on the stage. At school Ann took roles including Hermia in Midsummer Night’s Dream and Elizabeth Procter in The Crucible. At university she directed students in The Pirates of Penzance.

  After qualifying as a Drama teacher in 1978 from Birmingham University, she returned to Wolverhampton and joined Wton Musical Comedy Company as a dancer. She has been greatly involved in amateur theatre ever since.

  For a period of over 40 years Ann has taken lead roles in both musicals and plays. Her greatest achievements include the role of Ado Annie in Oklahoma, Maxine in Stepping Out and Pearl in Ladies Down Under ;and directing Blithe Spirit. In recent years, as a member of Codsall Dramatic Society, where she is a member of the committee, Ann has directed several plays.

  Ann retired as an Assistant Headteacher in 2016 though still works part time in an advisory capacity in different schools in Staffordshire.

  Ann has three children, six grandchildren and a husband, Pete. Spare time is spent walking in the countryside where she lives, listening to show music through earpods!
• 
  Dave Brown

  Regional Representative / Volunteer (District WM08)

  dave.brown@noda.org.uk

  As a former Martian in the musical 'The War of the Worlds' who terrified audiences by jumping out of a wheelie bin, covered in tin foil, wearing a huge Papier Mache head with hose pipes as tentacles, Dave's acting debut was a proud moment and went down in history as the scariest/funniest scene in the history of his school plays. 

  Fast forward 32 years and many shows later, Dave is currently a very proud member of The Fellowship Players in Walsall; he is also an active member of the committee and Drama Directorate. 

  However, being local to Stourbridge, Dave feels he is in a privileged position in meeting new people in his local area and is genuinely excited to continue to expand his knowledge and enjoy the talent of The Black Country. 

  Dave works as an Occupational Therapist and is married with two young children. He likes a 'nice' cup of tea and a book, he tries to play the drums and is learning to play the Harmonica.
• 
  Paul Douglass

  Regional Representative / Membership Secretary / Volunteer (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 / Volunteer (District WM10)

  bruce.wyatt@noda.org.uk

  Bruce was delighted to have been invited to succeed Trevor Guest as NODA Representative in
  2016 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.

  Bruce 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 his wife Jenny have been thrilled to receive invitations and meet with local societies
  are look forward to many more opportunities to support the societies in District 10.​
• 
  Brian Hirst

  Regional Representative / Volunteer (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 Laing

  Youth Coordinator / Magazine Editor / Volunteer

  emma.laing@noda.org.uk