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Nottingham And Nottinghamshire Drama Association
ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020
This is not the report I expected to be writing at the end of my first full year since accepting the role as Chair of the NANDA council. It has been a difficult year for all who love the theatre.
I would like to thank the groups that replied to our communication and in doing so, giving us an indication of their plans for 2021. We had announced that we would of course not take a membership payment in this year as we were not able to offer any services to members. The replies painted a bleak picture and the external environment has only worsened since. On that basis, I am afraid there is little to report this year.
I had said that the replies would help us shape our calendar and activities in 2021 but as it stands, we are still awaiting the possibility of starting to perform again. We have had shows cancelled, we have forgotten lines learned for these shows and have missed time with dear friends.
I will not dwell on this as it will change nothing.
What I would like to do is celebrate! Celebrate the winners from the Play Of The Year competition such as the Lace Market Theatre for winning the Newark Advertiser Shield for best all round play. I would also like to celebrate the resolve of our theatre community. I have been lucky enough to have been invited to take part in online readings with a number of groups. Speaking to individuals, they have found this a very rewarding way of keeping in touch with their friends. For many, these friends are like family and being unable to meet and rehearse or plan has been a terrible loss. I would like to celebrate the creativity I have seen. Whether that be online performances or simply different ways to keep a group connected! Most of all I am hoping to celebrate starting again in 2021 with the bottled-up passion of a year without drama waiting to be given to my next play.
We have decided that the pandemic certainly meets the criteria of force majeure and that as a consequence, we can not hold an AGM in line with the timeframe set out within the constitution. All elected officers and council members have been asked to continue for a further year.
We have some exciting plans for when we can re-start. We will look to our usual calendar of the Play Of The Year competition, Junior One Act Play Festival and luncheon. We had however started an exciting conversation in regard to funding a number of courses to allow members to access experts in certain technical aspects of theatre such as stage combat, lighting and of course acting. With that all I can do is look forward to getting started again and send the NANDA councils wish of a positive 2021 to all our members.
Robert Hurst
Chair of the NANDA council.