Welcome to the January issue of the e-mail newsletter.

                       Update from NODA Head Office

Although the year is now a couple of weeks old, please accept greetings from everyone at NODA HQ who all wish you a happy and successful 2008. This is a time of change at NODA, and you will soon be able to read about NODA’s exciting new five year strategy that outlines a number of ambitious plans for 2008 – 2012, including a number of new services being introduced for the benefit of all NODA members. Details of the five year plan will be published in February in NODA National News and on our web site.

Speaking of change, Elaine Buckley has now moved on to pastures new and we are delighted to welcome Christine Donald as our new Finance Manager. Chris has a wide range of finance experience and although she only joined the team on 7th January 2008, she is quickly settling in and is helping us review and improve a number of our processes.

We hope that you enjoy this newsletter and if there is anything you would like us to include in future editions then please email info@noda.org.uk

                               Subscription Renewals

Don't forget that your annual membership payment to NODA is now due. If you haven't done so already please renew here. 

                                    NODA Certificates

Does your society have a Centenary coming up? New for 2008 is the NODA Centenary certificate. These will be made available to the society free of charge and signed by our President. Any society qualifying will be required to fill out the application form (available shortly) with a brief history and send it to their regional medal secretary as per any other NODA award.

                                 NODA Survey – Part 2

To take part in the NODA survey and be in with the chance to win £100 please click here.

                Summer School – Realise Your Potential

Bookings for the NODA Summer School (2-9 August 2008) are coming in swiftly and some of the courses are already almost full.  Why not have a look at the NODA website by clicking here and see what exciting and interesting courses are being offered. 

An Actor’s Approach to Physical Theatre is a new course this year and is aimed at anyone with an interest in the physical way of making theatre, focusing on the individual student’s strengths. 

Or what about getting an inside track on how to make and adapt costumes for your society?  Our Costume and Wardrobe course was a roaring success last time and produced some exotic and interesting pieces for little effort and even less money – all you need to know is how!! 

What about that directing you have always wanted to try?  We offer Directing a Musical and Directing a Play as two opportunities to be taken up this year as well as various other interesting courses. 

The teaching is carried out by high quality professional tutors and the range of students is vast – we warmly welcome you if you have no experience whatsoever, a little experience but lack confidence in your abilities and also those of you who have been involved for so long that you think a different view would be helpful. 

Join us this year at Loughborough University and let us help you Realise Your Potential!

               Update from the NODA South West Region

Congratulations to Kev Behan who does such sterling work with Barnstaple Young Generation & Tiverton Juniors that he has been awarded the MBE in the New Year Honours List, which cited Barnstaple YG.

            Could you be a TV and West End Musical Star?
 
                                             

We found a Maria then a Joseph but now have 2 new problems!
WE NEED TO FIND ‘OLIVER’ AND ‘NANCY’!
 
BBC One is launching a brand new Saturday Night Talent search looking for newcomers to play OLIVER TWIST or NANCY in the
West End musical production of OLIVER
 
NATIONWIDE OPEN AUDITIONS START SOON!
 
INFORMATION PACKS AVAILABLE AT:
 www.bbc.co.uk/oliver
or call 09001 800 300
(Maximum call cost 60P from a BT landline – other operators and mobiles may be higher
Call charges covers admin costs (printing and posting)
 
All ‘NANCY’ applicants must be at least 17 by Jan 1st 2008 (playing age 17-35)
All ‘OLIVER applicants must be aged at least 9 on Jan 1st & no more than 14 by Dec 31st 2008

             Funding From The Co-operative Foundation
                              deadline: 7 March 2008

The Co-operative Foundation is an independent charitable trust set up in 2000 and solely funded by The Co-operative Group – United Region. The Society has donated nearly £10 million which has been invested to generate income to support the Foundation’s grant making programme, The Community Support Programme.

Since its launch, the Foundation has received hundreds of applications and has made almost 550 awards ranging from £500 to £30,000.

The Co-operative Foundation is keen to support community and voluntary sector activity through grants to local groups and organisations across its trading area. It is particularly interested in locally led and run groups which can demonstrate evidence of co-operative values and principles: self-help, equality, democracy, concern for the community.

More: www.co-operative.co.uk/en/foundation/

                                       Alan Bennett’s
                                 THE HISTORY BOYS

The multi-award-winning production, hailed as a modern masterpiece, returns to the West End from 20 December after selling out at the National Theatre, on tour, on Broadway and previously at Wyndham’s.

An unruly bunch of bright, funny sixth-form boys in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university. A maverick English teacher at odds with the young and shrewd supply teacher. A headmaster obsessed with results, and a history teacher who thinks he’s a fool.

Special Offer – Tickets just £25
Best available seats just £25, valid for Mon-Thurs performances from 7 Jan – 7 Feb 2008. Call the box office on 0844 482 5120 and quote ‘’NODA offer’. Subject to availability, usual price £37.50-£47.50.

Wyndham’s Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London WC2
www.thehistoryboys.org.uk