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NANDA Max Bromley
Nottingham Theatre Club was formed in 1946 with the amalgamation of the Nottingham Playgoers Club and the Philodramatic Society. The gentleman who was to become my father directed the first production: James Elroy Flecker’s Hassan. In June 1947 he directed again: James Bridie’s Tobias and the Angel and in December of the following year married the actress who had played Sara. I made my entrance a year later and to stretch theatrical metaphors to breaking point might suggest that my role in life had been determined.
After living in Folkestone and Manchester I came to Nottingham in 1961 and my parents quickly resumed their work with NTC. In 1965 I made my first appearance on the stage at Hutchinson Street in a version of Nicholas Nickleby, written and directed by Allen Tipton. I also joined the Co-operative Arts and played Count Fosco to Sue Pollard’s Marian.
After studying for a B.Ed at Trent Park College, now part of Middlesex University I came back to Nottingham in 1973 and spent the next thirty seven and a half years as a Drama Teacher. I directed my first play for the LaceMarket Theatre in 1974: David Wood’s The Owl and the Pussycat Went to Sea. As I write this I am in the early directorial stages of my thirty fourth for the group: Albee’s Three Tall Women.
On the way lighting, sound, set design, wardrobe and some acting. Vivid memories here: Rob as Laertes and me as the Dane facing each other on stage realising we had both forgotten what was next in the sword fight – we remembered! : after sweltering inside Audrey 2 trying to pull on a teeshirt for the curtain call: and Brushing Up the Bard every night with Roger as the other Gangster.
And outside. Directing nearly all the G&S’s for West Bridgford Operatic Society; Funny Thing on the Way to the Forum and Company for Masque in Mansfield; Johnny Johnson for Operating Theatre in Derby; Fagin in Oliver, Rudolph in Hello Dolly , Russian Officer in Fiddler for Nottingham Operatic.
And I am delighted to be adjudicating the Play Of The Year Competition again for NANDA. I know it will be fascinating and I will see some great theatre.