THE COTSWOLD SAVOYARDS

About Us

The Cotswold Savoyards was formed in 1962 to produce the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. We have presented staged versions of all 13 surviving operas, a reconstruction of Thespis, and other operettas by Sullivan, Lehar, Offenbach and Strauss. Over the past few years we have widened our repertoire to include shows such as The Sound of Music, Sweeney Todd, Singin' in the Rain, Into the Woods, Scrooge the Musical and Titanic the Musical. Approximately half our shows are now Gilbert and Sullivan, and half from other composers.

We stage two productions per year, each running for a week; one at Cheltenham's intimate theatre, The Playhouse, which seats just over 200 people, the other at the town's professional theatre, The Everyman, which seats over 600.

We are always willing to consider requests from other organisations to stage concerts on behalf of charity. We can produce a short cabaret by a small group of singers or a whole evening's entertainment with full chorus. Concerts in the past have included a staged and costumed performance of Trial by Jury in Gloucester Crown Court and a Sullivan Centenary Concert at Cheltenham Town Hall.

The society is always keen to attract new members, whether as singers or as helpers in some capacity. We are always pleased to see new faces on (and off) stage. In addition to our regular productions, we organise a variety of social events and you would be made most welcome.

Details about joining the the society can be found on the Join Us page.

We are very proud to have as President of the the Cotswold Savoyards the world-renowned soprano, Marilyn Hill Smith.

The Society has a Constitution, which outlines the principal aims of the society, and how it is set up.

Please click here for new member information.

Click here for Cotswold Savoyards audition guidelines.

 

Officers and Committees of the Cotswold Savoyards

 

President	Marilyn Hill Smith
Vice Presidents	Gill Cogzell Margaret Craven Don Holland Duncan Hooper Simon Lewis David Manifold Richard Schofield Peter Walker Anthony Jones
Life Members	Mavis Boulton John Cogzell Ann Cox Jean Hawkins Penny Lewis Geraldine Rowley
Committee Officers
Chairman	Vacant
Secretary (and acting chair)	Sarah Dimond-Brown
Treasurer	Fiona Gordon-Smith
Publicity Manager	Michael Fitch
Additional Committee Members	Megan Donnelly Helen Carter Holly Plumpton Christopher Tilbury Sim Small Ela Antosiewicz Jamie Hayes
Concerts Committee
Members	TBC

 

Patrons of the Cotswold Savoyards

 

Mr & Mrs B. Benson Mrs M. Birkin Miss P. Bowyer Mr J.M.R. Clarke Rev & Mrs G.Cox Mrs M. Craven Mr A. Eccles Mrs S. Edmunds Mr & Mrs T. Flack Mrs S. Garland Mr K. Sherwood Mrs G. Hewlett Mrs P. Holland Mrs J. Johnson Mrs M. Kilminster Mr B. Large Mr P. Leppard Mrs C. McNaughton

Mr A. Melville-Smith Mr D. Mills Mrs S. Morgan Mr J. Norris Mrs C. Oddy Mr J. Pannett Mr. M.Rainbow Mrs M. Pingriff Mr R. Pocock Mrs J. Roberts Mr & Mrs S. Seaton Mrs M. Simms Sir M.H. Simms Mr J. Stevenson Mr J. Stubbings Mrs J. Whales Mrs J. Wilson Mrs A. Wynn

 

An Introduction to NODA

The Cotswold Savoyards are proud members of NODA.

The National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA), founded in 1899, is the leading representative body for amateur theatre in the UK. The Association has a membership of approximately 2000 amateur theatre groups and approximately 800 individual members staging musicals, operas, plays, concerts and pantomimes in a wide variety of venues ranging from the country’s leading professional theatres to village halls. Covering a broad spectrum of age ranges NODA member societies meet the needs of all levels of both performers, whether dramatic, dance or musical, and those involved backstage, front of house or in society administration.

NODA aims:

• To give a shared voice to amateur theatre
• To help societies and individuals achieve the highest standards of best practice and performance.
• To provide leadership and advice to enable amateur theatre to tackle the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century To achieve these aims NODA is divided into eleven regions, each headed by a regional councillor who sits on the national council (ruling body of the Association), and supported by a network of regional representatives and officials. These volunteers are the vital link to the grass roots of the Association; the amateur theatre groups themselves and their members.
• To provide support and assistance to these volunteers the Association is administered from its office in Peterborough by a knowledgeable and friendly staff who can deal with any enquiry about amateur theatre.

Membership of NODA provides theatre groups and individuals with a wide range of benefits including access to NODA’s advice service at national and regional level, as well as representation to government, access to funding agencies, direct access to rights holders and the media as well access to regional and national conferences, workshops and seminars to help share information on best practice. NODA holds an annual residential Summer School (with bursaries available) offering training from professional tutors in a wide range of both performance and technical courses. NODA also holds an annual national and regional programme and poster competition to encourage high standards in design. Through its trading arm, NODA Limited members have access to a varied range of products and services including insurance for both societies and individuals, long service awards that recognise the dedication made by individuals to amateur theatre, discounts on plays, vocal scores, libretti and technical books and a range of NODA branded merchandise. As a rights holder NODA Limited has 150 pantomimes by leading authors as well as a growing catalogue of plays and musicals.

National Operatic and Dramatic Association Headquarters: 15 The Metro Centre, Peterborough, PE2 7UH

Telephone: 01733 374790
Email: info@noda.org.uk
Website: www.noda.org.uk

 

 

 

© Cotswold Savoyards 2021