NANDA CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Sitting amongst friends and Colleagues at the marvelous Theatre Luncheon last week and listening to the inspired address given by Norman Pace it was impossible not to feel a real sense of satisfaction and pride. This feeling being induced, not only by this sellout event, the continuing success and popularity of our Play of the Year Competition, the work of a dedicated Group of officers and Committee, but the way Nanda continues to do bring together as close colleagues the members of so many different Groups. There assembled was company devoted to helping and sharing problems, all feeling part of a creative process to provide the best entertainment for their own local and wider communities. This warm and comfortable feeling was reinforced by Norman Pace's own references to his early days of amateur drama in Newark and how they provided an essential platform upon which he could build his own national success in both television and theatre. These components represented for me the very essence of the important work we do at Nanda; that is promoting talent and kinship. A far cry from some years ago when member Groups were more insular. Now I feel, as never before, we are moving forward not as a Group of many but as one. Long may it continue?
The overall financial position and indeed the standing of NANDA remain strong, thanks to a dedicated Executive Committee team which has run a diverse range of play competitions, theatre lunches and drama training courses. This work could be energised by the representation on the Executive in particular of additional nominations from those member Groups currently not represented in our number. The currently serving members I am sure would agree it is not a duty that is seen as too onerous but one that provides a Group bonding that is of direct benefit to their own nominating Groups. Take just one example, that of props. We are now regularly serving a host of requests for help and this goes for actors, costumes and a crop of technical issues .So I continue to hope that by taking advantage of these benefits we will stimulate the appearance of new faces and ideas at our Executive Committee level.
It is a pleasure that I now turn to the activities that have formed the basis of our work for 2013/2014
The Play of the Year Competition attracted 20 entrants with success being achieved by the Magpie Drama Group with their production of "Haunting Julia". The plays were adjudicated by Colin Treliving who attended all of the productions and gave some excellent and very helpful adjudications. The Competition was followed by the Annual Awards Dinner held at the Welbeck Hotel in June 2014. Particular thanks here are extended to Linda Whitehurst and her team for the work done to manage this sellout event .Sadly the Welbeck has been sold and is being converted into an apartment hotel but I am sure we will all remember the happy times NANDA enjoyed there.
A break with tradition brought us to the newly refurbished Bonington Theatre for our One Act Play Festival. The move proved to be a major improvement thanks in no small measure to the work undertaken by the manager of the Theatre and the expertise received from the Bonnington Players staging team. The event attracted four entries ably and well adjudicated by Gordon Parsons. The event was won by the Market Harborough production of After Midnight, Before Dawn. As runner up and Nottinghamshire's representative West Bridgford went on to the Quarter Finals with "Seven Stages of an affair "but sadly they missed out at the Leicester Semi Finals
The 2014 Youth Festival attracted five entries that were adjudicated by David Baliol Key with the competition being won by the lace Market Theatre's production of "Blackadder goes Forth". This event in 2015 is to be run at the Chilwell Youth Theatre on the 7th and 9th May and will be adjudicated by Di Richards. It is hoped and expected that entries for the 2015 Festival will increase as the 2014 Festival was slightly marred by competing group production clashes.
During the year the decision was taken to discontinue the Nanda Newsletter; it being replaced by the NANDA Facebook page. This work was undertaken by Howard Whitehurst where the coverage of our work and activities has been extended and improved. All member Groups are urged to link up to our Facebook page w~re instant support and help with problems is just a "finger touch away". Mike Stewart continues to ably maintain our Web site which provides an ever present guide to our activities and events calendar. It is with some pride that I report that the site continues to be subject to a range of international enquiries from throughout the world. Thank you again Howard and Mike for keeping us and the world aware of all our endeavours.
Communication between members Groups have been improved especially by some Groups. Alas communications with some Groups is patchy and in some cases sadly non-existent. There appears to . be a continuing laxity in passing on details of new contact persons and informing individual members of our activities. This is an age old problem which I urge all Groups to address. With temerity I make the suggestion that this item is placed on the earliest available Group Committee agenda whereby a communication policy is formally determined and forwarded to Nanda for our records. Such policy should also include mechanisms for personnel changes and informing individual Society members. I hope this recommendation will be endorsed by Groups and our Secretary will receive in due course such statements
During the year Nanda has exercised vigilance on the fate of some of our Theatres in the region. Thankfully Bonington Theatre is now fully functional as an improved theatre and performance space. The Peoples Theatre's continue to operate and use the Nottingham Arts Theatre as their base. A watchful eye on developments is being undertaken by NANDA. As is the case of the Stanford Hall Theatre where the future remains highly uncertain.
I cannot end my report without paying tribute to the dedication and energy exercised by the Executive Committee. They have as always been ever keen to help and their regular attendance is a cause for thanks and recognition. This year we welcomed Bar Fisher as the lace Market rep and in thanking her for her important contributions I would also like to extend on behalf of all our good wishes and thank to our dear former Executive colleague Jack Barratt. It is mine, and all our hopes, that he will soon be over his current bout of bad health
I would ask that this report is made available to all members of individual Groups and would be delighted to receive more suggestions for our future activities
JOAN WllDGUST
CHAIRMAN