Hello and welcome to the December edition of the NODA Newsletter. This month you can enjoy all the latest news from NODA, including upcoming events like Summer School and Youth Academy, as well as casting opportunities. Plus, NODA have a fantastic, EXCLUSIVE ticket offer for members to see Camille O'Sullivan! 

Professional training for amateur theatre

NODA Summer School offers a unique experience; a week of unrivalled, intense training for amateur theatre practitioners across a diverse range of performance and backstage skills.

We invite you to join us. Our team of professional tutors help adults, of all ages and experience, to develop their confidence and skills during this exciting week.

The course work begins on the evening of Saturday 31st July and runs throughout the week until 3.30pm on Friday 6th August. We mark the end of the week with an informal sharing of work and an 'after show' event on Friday evening which should not be missed!  Summer School ends after breakfast on Saturday 7th August.

 Our 12 courses cover all aspects of theatre and you can also try something different at the evening sessions and social events throughout the week. Every year, NODA welcomes new, as well as returning students and offers a stimulating, challenging and fun-filled week of learning on campus at Loughborough University.

 We would love you to join us in 2010 and share your passion for theatre!

 
Book your place now, to avoid disappointment, by calling NODA Membership Services on
01733 865790

Don’t delay, book your place today! - NODA Youth Academy 2010

The NODA Youth Academy announced its come back for 2010 at the start of October 2009 and already much interest has been shown by potential students, and places are now being reserved.

If you don’t want to miss out on your place, visit the NODA website www.noda.org.uk or contact NODA for an application form on 01733 865790.

The Academy will be taking place at Uppingham School, Uppingham, Rutland on
6th – 9th April 2010. The Youth Academy will offer two different study options for the young amateur theatre practitioner; the Musical Theatre Academy and the Drama Academy. Both the Musical Theatre Academy and the Drama Academy will offer two series of workshops, a junior group for 12 – 14 year olds and a senior group for 15 – 17 year olds.

If you want to spend more time practising your favourite hobby, learning what your strengths are as a performer, or meeting new people with similar interest’s, then book your place today!

If you love theatre this is the Academy for you!

CALLING ALL CHAPERONES - NODA needs you!
Chaperones are an important part of the NODA Youth Academy and this is a great opportunity to be involved in this exciting event. We would welcome around 20 volunteers who could provide a full day's pre-timetabled assistance. If you would like to take part but are unable to attend during the day, we would also welcome assistance during the evening.
 

 The students will be aged between 12 -17 and general duties will include observing workshops, escorting the students; to their next class, to meal times, to their accommodation during the day (if required) and at the end of the day. Current CRB checks will be required, in addition, an up to date First Aid certificate would be a benefit, but is not essential. Accommodation (if necessary) and all travel and other expenses will be paid. If you would like to play a key role in this vibrant and fulfilling event, or need more information, please contact Antonia Johnson on 01733 865790. 

EXCLUSIVE NODA members ticket offer!

Have you seen the article on Camille O'Sullivan we ran in the pilot edition of Theatre Talk?  If you haven't seen it, take a look at it now, it's on the NODA website:  www.noda.org.uk . Please complete the feedback form when you've read it.  We need to know what you think of this idea for a new-look regional magazine, being trialled in the NODA East region only.

As a result of the article, NODA members are being offered tickets to Camille's show for the exceptional price of £7.50 (normally £41.00).  This offer is for next week only.

A limited number of best seat tickets are available for shows between 7th -11th December 2009 for only £7.50 each (tickets should be £41.00, but this exclusive offer is available only to NODA members). It's first come, first served and when they're gone they're gone!

Camille O'Sullivan's Dark Angel residency is at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, London.

To book, phone 0844 412 4658 and quote "VIP Offer" (maximum 8 tickets per person) 

Following the success of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do and I'd Do Anything, BBC One is launching a new TV talent search to find Andrew Lloyd Webber a leading lady for the 

                                               legendary musical, The Wizard of Oz.

The TV show is currently looking for potential Dorothys to audition as the nationwide search begins in January 2010, visiting Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester and London.

If you think you could be Dorothy then apply now to audition by going to bbc.co.uk/dorothy

All applicants must have been aged 16 or over by June 26th 2009.  

 If you use radio microphones in your productions, this could affect you!

Following the article we printed in the Autumn edition of NODA National News (Wireless Microphones in Channel 69), NODA and National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) has joined forces with 20 other organisations, representing the British Entertainment Industry in the launch of the Save Our Sound UK campaign.  We are asking the Government to act to safeguard the future of any events which use radio microphones. These events (live music, theatre, film and TV production, sports events, concerts and conferences, to name but a few!) became threatened when Ofcom announced it's plans to sell the ultra-high radio frequency channels 31 - 37 and 61 - 69, which will be cleared out by the digital switch-over. 

After these channels have been auctioned off by the Government they will become illegal. 

The cost of replacing wireless equipment is estimated to be tens of millions of pounds and thus far Ofcom's proposed funding scheme is inadequate to cover these costs.  Under it's proposed terms, only equipment which tunes to 69 would be eligible for funding!  Those who are eligible would only receive funding based on an estimate of residual value of equipment rather than what it would cost to replace!

The Save Our Sound UK joint initiative asks that the Government acts , if and where Ofcom can not, to provide what the industry needs.  The demands are twofold; that the package covers all affected equipment, not just that which is tuned to channel 69 and that the funding is based on what it will cost to replace equipment with like-for-like alternatives.

NODA fully supports the campaign and urges members to learn more about it here.... www.saveoursounduk.com

Over the next few days all members will be receiving their NODA subscription renewal notices.

NODA membership offers access to a wide range of exclusive and discounted products and services. If you haven't already done so, please renew your membership for 2010 now! 

If you renew before 18th December, you can order the NODA 'Working With The Media' DVD for the discounted price of just £10.00 (normally £25.00).

If you are not already a NODA member and would like some information about the exclusive products and benefits available to you, please contact Lynn in Membership Services by email lynn@noda.org.uk or phone 01733 865790 

A daily workout for your singing voice from sought after vocal coach Paul Knight.

This warm up CD brings you a perfectly balanced range of vocal exercises to take you through your vocal range. The 25 minute CD is suitable for all and is a great addition to you ‘theatre toolkit’.

The CD costs £12 including post and packaging!  If you would like to take advantage of this brand new offer to NODA members contact Membership Services on 01733 865790. 

We have got lots of new productions, from musicals and melodramas to plays and pantomimes. NODA is now able to license all of these titles.  Here are a couple of EXCLUSIVES

to wet your appetite!

Hood the Musical

The Robin Hood musical with a rock edge! If you want something that’s a bit different to your usual musical theatre production the new title, for NODA members, from Andy Brown and Steve Williamson could be for you.

Based on England’s favourite folk hero, Robin Hood, Hood is much more like a modern rock musical than a conventional theatrical piece as neither of the writers comes from a theatrical background and both are pop/rock musicians and songwriters first. They set themselves the challenge of writing the musical version of the story they both loved and it took the best part of eight years to complete. While there’s definitely a rock focus, Andy and Steve made a conscious effort to add various styles into the work.

Hood is an inspiring and challenging musical for all amateur and youth societies. If you would like to stage a production, please contact membership services for perusal copies and licensing details.

Valentino

The untimely death of Italian actor and ‘Latin Lover’ Rudolph Valentino led to mass hysteria among female fans. This new NODA musical, written by Stephen Duckham with Laurie Hornsby, celebrates his life and iconic status.

Based on the life of the first screen superstar, the story of Rudolph Valentino has romance, intrigue, even a murder, all set in the glamorous world of 1920’s New York and Hollywood.

There is the possibility of doubling for small companies and during the show the entire company acts as a form of narrator, singing various reprises of the title song and moving the story forward. There is also lots of ensemble work, several small characters and thanks to tango being the dance rage of the era, plenty of opportunity for choreography.  Musicals often require a strong female lead character; this is definitely a vehicle for a strong and versatile lead male!

For more information, perusal copies and licensing details please contact Membership Services on 01733 865790

Looking for a great comedy/farce?

For the last ten years, Raymond Hopkins has been writing farcical comedies and donating his royalties to Multiple Sclerosis Research.
 

 His plays have been extremely successful in the U.K. with hundreds of productions and summer season runs. The plays are also very popular in Australia and Europe. At the present time, over twenty thousand pounds has been raised for Multiple Sclerosis Research. The plays have received dozens of excellent reviews

For further information, please visit the the Raymond Hopkins website.

You could win a pair of tickets to see London’s fantastic West End, off West End, fringe, drama, comedy or musical theatre every week for a whole year !

For your chance to win this fabulous prize, visit www.auditionsapracticalguide.com , buy a copy of the book and enter the competition. Delivery is FREE to any UK address.

 What’s more, every entrant will receive a FREE pair of London theatre tickets (worth up to £120).

Auditions: A Practical Guide, by the British Casting Director, Richard Evans CDG, is the perfect gift for anyone pursuing or considering a career in the performing arts. Buy it for a relative or friend, buy it for yourself, telling your loved ones that you’ve got a present they can give to you, or, if you already have a copy, look extra generous and give the book to a friend… keeping the theatre tickets for yourself!

So what are you waiting for?
Go to www.auditionsapracticalguide.com and ENTER NOW!

AUDITIONS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE
The Christmas gift that will last a career. Put it on your Christmas list!

Closing date 16 January 2010
 

 Competition open to UK residents only Purchase required Terms and conditions apply. 

A Queen For Sunday is a newly restored 1940s fantasy by revue writer Leslie Julian Jones, combining elements of operetta, musical comedy and pantomime.

Set on the mythical Sunday Island “somewhere in the Pacific” it concerns the wicked Prime Minister Hi-Tee’s efforts to marry the Queen-in-Waiting, Princess Jacinth, off to a member of his Cabinet.

With over 25 tuneful and witty numbers it is truly a musical musical, and ideal for workshops.

For a professionally recorded demo CD and libretto contact Golden Sounds Productions.

Email: Anthony@goldensoundsproductions.com or telephone 020 7586 5154

Theatre

The Sound of Music UK Tour

Immediately looking for 2 girls, from the London area, to play Marta or Brigitta. They must be under 133cm tall, great singers and actresses, bright fair-skinned and 7 - 9 years old.

Les Miserables UK Tour - Norwich, Birmingham, Edinburgh

Looking for girls (under 4ft 4in with fair hair and sweet soprano voice) to perform locally in all areas and a boy (to play Gavroche, aged about 10 yrs, under 4ft 7in) to perform in Edinburgh and tour.

Oliver

Auditions being held at Christmas. All boys and girls must sing well, maximum height 5ft, aged 8 - 13. Girls must come from the London area. 

The Lion King - Cub School

Auditions in January. Children will attend Cub School in London, then be auditioned for the show. Dark-skinned children, maximum height 4ft 9in - must send photograph.

Film

Preludes - New feature casting

BAFTA Award winning Director Pawel Pawlikowski is looking for a young man (aged 14 - 18 yrs), with a standard London accent, to play the lead role in a major feature film about a mother and son on a road trip. Send a short description of yourself, where you come from and where you see yourself in 10 years time.

The Man Inside

Four teenagers (16 - 18 yrs) required to play the leads.  3 Black actors (1 boy, 1 girl who are brother and sister and 1 friend). Also 1 White male.

Please apply in writing, for any of the above, to: Jane Frisby, 51 Ridge Road, London N8 9LJ  or call 01952 458449 for more infromation. www.thecastingwebsite.com

Reach out to NODA members.

Each month, the NODA Newsletter is sent to nearly 2000 email addresses.  For details on how to advertise in the next issue, please contact Julia: julia@noda.org.uk

You don't have to be a member to receive the monthly NODA Newsletter?

If there is someone you know who might benefit from receiving the NODA Newsletter - FREE - please contact Julia: julia@noda.org.uk at NODA

We hope you enjoyed reading this NODA Newsletter. 

NODA wish you all a Merry Christmas.  Look out for the next issue in January 2010.