Chairman's Report
I am pleased to report that the past year has seen some positive thinking and subsequent action from your Executive Council.
Following our appeal last year we have welcomed 6 new members onto our Council representing 5 groups
(Keyworth, Radcliffe on Trent, Burton Joyce, Bonington and the Lace Market).
Jack Barrett replaces Douglas McDonald from the Lace Market who resigned during the year due to other pressures.
We also have a new Honorary Secretary, Christine Davison from The Nottingham Arts Theatre.
We welcome Christine and hope that she will enjoy her time with us at NANDA.
Our Youth Festival was a success again as far as standards were concerned,
although we had fewer entries, and the premises at the Dukeries left much to be desired.
The Reg Dury Cup for the Best Overall Play was won by The Lace Market Youth Theatre for "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Thanks to Sarah for her organisation.
The One Act Play Festival only attracted 4 entries this year and again the premises at Long Eaton are not
really suitable for a "professional" Festival. The prize for the best production went to Dronfield Players for "The Fox".
Thanks to Neil for his work in organising the festival.
The Play of the Year Competition attracted 10 this year, bringing mixed fortunes for some groups.
How the pendulum swings from year to year! This time it was the turn of West Bridgford Dramatic Society
to lift the Newark Advertiser Shield with their production of "Memory of Water".
Thanks to Ian Carr for his substantive and forthright adjudications and his remarks at the Awards Dinner.
Thanks also to Linda and Christine for organising a splendid evening.
Our Theatre Luncheon has once again been postponed due to lack of availability of celebrities.
Jack Barrett, who has taken on the job from Douglas McDonald, is doing his best to find someone for 2009. Good luck Jack.
Hayley continues to struggle with the Newsletter. Her task is thankless and help is desperately needed.
Articles are still in short supply and deadlines frustrating. If your production dates are not sent in
they are not publicised and will not appear on the website in time.
Please let us know what you would like to see in the newsletter and send in your contributions.
Any information which is timeless can go into any edition, which gives Hayley more flexibility.
Thank you Hayley and please don't give up!
Mike Stewart and Jon Jones have been looking at our Website and ways to improve it.
Thanks to all who filled in questionnaires. The work is ongoing and comments are always appreciated.
It is hoped that this will be our most important vehicle of communication as we progress. Thank you Mike and Jon.
A major event this year was the Open Forum held at the Nottingham Arts Theatre in July.
This was well attended and some interesting and constructive discussions took place. We hope to hold another one in 2009.
As a result of this the Executive Council has been working on organising a series of workshops
and details of these will be circulated very soon.
We have also taken a long look at the Youth and One Act Festivals and are working at re-launching and updating them,
including a survey of possible new venues according to finance available.
A grant application to East Midlands Airport for the Youth Festival was unsuccessful,
but other opportunities are being looked at. We will keep you informed of progress in these areas.
Can I take this opportunity to remind member groups of the Gurd Award.
This is an award in memory of Pat and Maurice Gurd and is worth approximately £40 to the recipient.
It can be awarded each year at the discretion of a panel of three appointed Council members.
It is intended "to promote a recognition of the contributions to the theatre of the true amateur:
i.e. someone who genuinely contributes out of a love of the theatre,
seeking to attract no personal glory nor public acclamation of his or her efforts,
but taking satisfaction from his or her personal sense of achievement and contribution.
Full information and criteria are available from the Chairman/Secretary.
I thank you for reading this report and hope that you will make sure it is available to all your group members.
Thanks also to our President Roy Ainscough for being my guiding mentor,
and to all the members of the Executive Council for their continued support, time and enthusiasm.
Let us hope that together we can continue to make a difference to drama in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Thank you
JOAN WILDGUST
Chair of the Executive Council