Aileen Wiswell from the Newton-le-Wil ows Amateur Dramatics and Operatic Society (NADOS) speaks to Amaze Magazine. Can you give an overview of some of your different activities that you have completed to bring our readers up to date on what you offer? We assisted 2 groups to bring children over from Chernobyl. We were challenged to entertain them over a month free of charge. We organised a party in the park with traditional games – rounders, egg & spoon and a treasure hunt. We bag packed at Sainsburys to raise funds, invited them to a rehearsal and threw a party afterwards. We provided each child (thanks to Boots the chemist who allowed us to raise funds with them) a set of toiletries and we collected new clothes for each child. In addition friends of mine ( who own sweets shops in Wales) provided each child with sweets. Another friend helped us to get the children to free concerts at the Halle in Manchester and I managed to get them days in our local school where they were introduced to drama, performing arts and arts & crafts. We then presented each group with a cheque to assist them in 2012.
In addition to this we work with local schools to provided them with costumes and sound equipment free of charge for their productions. You have recently won some awards at the Blackpool NODA can you tell our readers what it was like to be rewarded for your efforts and how it has impacted on your future productions? We were delighted to win best musical review for our production “40 years and beyond” – celebrating what the society has done in the last 40 years and what we may do in the future and the Outstanding Achievement award - the first North West NODA award for recognition of our charity work. We were very humbled and it certainly gave us the desire to do more and do better in the community especially for those children less fortunate than our own. What advice would you give to other amateur dramatic groups that are perhaps just forming or looking to step up
their productions a little?
effort and without everyone encouraging each other it Run your group like a business wouldn’t happen. All our group and remember you may be was involved from the 7yr old to amateur but your productions the old timers like me. It must be professional. If people invigorated us and certainly pay to see a good performance made us aware of just how lucky that’s what they should get. Don’t we are to live in a country where be frightened to watch other the air is safe to breath. Also we amateur groups and steal their realised that we can do more so ideas with pride – always tell we’ve set ourselves the them why you thought their ideas challenge for 2012. are great and that you will steal them – they are usually very Who has inspired you to be so flattered. successful?
raise money. I basically have no shame when it comes to asking for something for nothing so we can continue to produce shows for the public and provide support to charity groups. I also volunteer for Macmillan and most charities if asked will help support another’s event if they can share some of the profits or get some well needed publicity.
What would you tell them to avoid doing?
I find most of my friends to be inspirational – if I had to name one person it would be my mum – she always said “do your best” and encouraged us to make a difference - if everyone just did one thing differently it would soon add up to a major change.
We ask for suggestions from the membership and then at the AGM each year we ask them to vote.
How do you fund your group, what advice would you give to people looking at ways to raise funding?
Check some other group in a local town is not putting the show on at the same time as you – as you will lose seats. Check your licences carefully to ensure a professional group has not applied for it at the same time- you won’t get a license if they have. Don’t be insular - go watch other groups – it’s a good way to
Using old productions – go for known shows but with new scripts. Encourage your children to get involved – it’s a great experience for them and it guarantees “bums on seats” for you. How does it feel to win an award for your charitable contributions? Can you explain what you did in more detail? It was amazing – certainly in terms of Chernobyl - it’s a team
We apply for grants, approach companies to sponsor us, ask companies to provide gifts for raffle prizes, hold quiz and race nights and social events to
How do you choose the productions you become involved in?
What would you tell people to avoid when looking at what productions to do?
network; see other directors interpretation of the piece and think about how you could produce it. Don’t pick vague shows if you need money - do traditional pantomimes – anything with a princess in will guarantee lots of little girls attending. Involve your junior members – “bums on seats” as aunts/uncles and grandparents will come and watch. Most importantly don’t be frightened to try. Any other advice? It’s great fun and it gives the junior members lots of confidence - I feel very proud to be Chair of NADOS (Newtonle-Willows Amateur Dramatics & Operatic society) and hope we can continue to provide good professional shows that the public want to watch. NADOS was built on the shoulders of giants. One such giant was our late chair John Barham. Our continued success is seen as the continuation of all the hard work and love he put into NADOS.