North Staffs Drama Association
About Us
The North
Staffs Drama Association was founded over fifty years ago and has been
promoting amateur theatre, in all its forms, ever since. There have been a
large number of amateur dramatic societies who have been members and
participated in the NSDA activities over the years. Some of those founding
societies are still members today and we have had many societies join, merge
with others or sadly fold as amateur drama has decreased in popularity over the
years both from a participating and audiences point of view.
We are run
and organised by an elected governing committee and all member societies are
entitled to send along a representative to the three meetings that we hold each
year and to the Annual General Meeting.
Our main
event is the yearlong drama festival, which runs from 1 June each year. Member
societies enter their productions, which are then adjudicated, by one of the
panel of GODA adjudicators that we have assembled. The Festival culminates each
year in Gala Night at which the thirteen various trophies, which are available
to win, are awarded. Very like the Oscars in Hollywood although the red carpet
is looking a bit threadbare now, the dress is more conservative and acceptance
speeches are banned!
This
Festival is unique in many ways. Firstly entered productions are adjudicated in
their own venues that range from church/village halls through schools and up to
professional theatres. Secondly this format allows us to have a great variety
of different types of show entered from Shakespeare and classic plays to
pantomime and musicals with a few thrillers, comedies and farces along the way.
Finally, unlike other Festivals, we have a panel of five adjudicators who meet
at the end of the season, under a chair, and decide on the season’s nominations
and awards.
The NSDA
is a member of the National Drama Festivals Association (NDFA) who organise the
annual British All-Winners Festival, held at different venues around the
country, in July each year. The winners of our Festival are usually eligible
for selection for this national festival and we have had quite a few winners
from our member societies as well as many societies competing in the finals.
Our other
events have included quiz nights, car treasure hunts and other social events
for our member societies. We also seek to promote all societies productions and
to assist each other, where and when possible, with the loan of actors, props
etc and, of course, going along to support each others productions.
If you are
interested in amateur theatricals please contact a society close to you via our
Member Societies page or for more information on NSDA itself please email our secretary@nsdrama.org.uk.
Finally we
have listed the known results and trophy winners from our Festivals but there
are large gaps in the information and we would be grateful for any help in
filling in the missing details. Many thanks if you can assist.