Covid having intervened, no NODA awards could be presented until 2023, when the presentation by Stuart McCue-Dick, Councillor for NODA (Scotland) took place at our 50th Anniversary tea at the Pitbauchlie House Hotel on Saturday 22 April 2023, with what must surely be a record number of awards collected.

These awards recognising service to amateur theatre went to:

• Joy Campbell: 20 year badge
• Willie Campbell: 20 year badge
• John Allen: 20 year badge
• *Jim Robinson: 20 year badge
• *Ian Anderson: 25 year badge
• Anne Dolbear: 25 year badge
• *Jennifer Williams: 25 year badge
• Theresa Wilson: 25 year badge
• Jack Archibald: 30 year badge
• *Marion Kelly: 30 year badge
• Mary Kidd: 40 year badge
• Gwyneth Kirby: 40 year badge
• Martin Tarr: 45 year badge
• Mike Pendlowski: 50 year badge

The final award to Robin Ożóg was not for long service as such (Robin had already received his 50 year award) but a very special NODA Commendation Award recognising the major contribution he has made to our Society since its foundation.

*Four members were not able to attend the tea, so their awards were presented at a later date by our Chair.

This post will work its way down the page, but you can see all the recent presentation history at this link.

Hi everyone … we always have an Annual General Meeting at this time of year, and this year you’ll get the bonus of a summer concert rehearsal afterwards. So come along to Limekilns Parish Church 30 minutes earlier than usual at 7.00pm on Wednesday 17 May, and have your say! Anyone is welcome, but only paid-up members can vote.

The agenda for the meeting can be downloaded at this link.

Why don’t you bring one of your friends or relations along to the first rehearsal on Wed 17th Aug 2022 (7.30pm at Limekilns Parish Church, 8 Church Street, Limekilns, KY11 3HT – Google Map at this link)?

Pirates and policemen are especially welcome (but I’m sure Major-General Stanley would love a few more daughters).

We are all really excited to start be starting rehearsals on Wednesday 17 August in Limekilns Parish Church. While our normal rehearsal time is 7.30–9.30pm with a short social break in the middle, on 17 August, we are beginning with tea/coffee/chat (catch-up and getting to know you) from 7.00pm. We’ll definitely be singing by 8.00pm!

All chorus members and principals should attend. Ellen Patrick will be at Ferrytoll at 7.00pm to pick up people from the bus from Edinburgh.

This is our delayed 50th Anniversary production, and we want a massive chorus. So do come along on 17 August if you just want to try out being a chorus member – no previous experience is necessary, and we can lend you a vocal score if you don’t have one.

Even if you are not able to perform with us next February, please make your friends, relations and acquaintances aware that we’d love more chorus members, including former principals and lapsed chorus!

Robin and Eddie are calling all principals and understudy together on Monday 22 August at 7.30pm in the Gelert Hall at Limekilns Parish Church. This is where the auditions were – to the left of the Church building, at the back. Pick-up from the Edinburgh bus at Ferrytoll at 7.15pm for those who need it.

Our Chair, Morag Riley, writes:

We are very excited to be beginning preparations for our 2023 production of Pirates of Penzance which will see us return to the Carnegie Hall. This year it is with great pleasure that we welcome as our Director a face most known to us from the stage, Robin Ożóg. Robin has had many years experience of Gilbert and Sullivan, both as a performer of many and varied parts and as a Director. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that he is our resident expert on all things Savoyard. I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us. Robin will be assisted by Sinead Black as Assistant Director and we also welcome back Eddie MacLennan as Musical Director. A great team I’m sure you’ll agree.

Auditions will be held on Monday 4 July and Wednesday 6 July and details are on our Auditions page. We will be back rehearsing in Limekilns Church, both for chorus (Wednesday nights) and principals (Monday nights).

Rehearsals will begin on Wednesday 17 August at 7.30pm, so come along for what we hope will be an exciting time as we work toward what would have been our 50th anniversary performance. Initially Eddie will take us through the music, with a bit of ‘note bashing’, after which we will hit the floor to begin learning our moves. That’s when the fun really begins!

Mike Pendlowski attended our Saturday matinée and reported on behalf of NODA:

Dunfermline G&S Society take to the stage, in person, once again – the first time since HMS Pinafore in February 2020. This time, they are presenting a performance, in concert style, of Princess Ida, sadly not one of the more frequently performed G&S operas, albeit with wonderful melodies and the usual Gilbertian topsy-turveydom of a plot. In fact to quote a gentleman sitting behind me in the audience, having read the very complete synopsis in the programme, “The story’s bloody complicated, isn’t it!”

First up, we meet the pompous King Hildebrand, played with suitable swagger by Martin Tarr, ably joined by his son and friends, namely Hilarion (Alex Gunn), Cyril (Nathan MacAuley-Dicks) and Florian (Matthew Sielewicz-Stanhope). Hilarion, progressing his father’s lead in to the plot, gives a very competent rendition of “Ida was a twelve month old” – just to further augment the convoluted nature of that which we are about to experience. We are joined by the menacing King Gama (Gordon Horne), Princess Ida’s father, together with his three sons Arac (Zorbey Turkalp), Guron (Andrew Campbell) and Scynthius (Paul Graham). The latter three boisterous buffoons excel, particularly in the Act Three stripping song, in which several pieces of armour in turn are “gently” removed by members of the ladies chorus.

Act Two brings us in to Castle Adamant, the ladies’ university itself. Suzanne Horsburgh portrays Lady Psyche, Professor of Humanities, as a person with whom you would be foolish to argue. This thought, however, has not reached Lady Blanche, Professor of Abstract Science (Liz Landsman), whose penchant for using ten words when one would do is evident throughout. Melissa, Lady Blanche’s daughter (Sinead Black) enters and joins Lady Blanche in a beautifully sung duet “Now Wouldn’t You Like to Rule the Roast”. A modicum of awkward cross-dressing ensues before we have the entry of the title character played by Gillian Robertson. Normally, when I report on Gillian’s performance I have to revert to adjectives such as first-class and flawless. Not so this time, I’m afraid. Here, I have to say that Gillian raised the bar to extreme heights – her performance of “Minerva” was exquisite, and her character, in general, was unassailable. Well done Gillian! Minor characters who must also receive a mention are Sacharissa (Rachel Allan), Chloe (Morag Riley) and Ada (Clare White). These three dependable “Girl” Graduates were put to good use when stage dressing required setting or striking, or one of Hilarion’s clan required a dance partner!

The Dunfermline G&S chorus never failed to achieve. Seated on audience level, either side of the action, they were kept busy with the choral requirements – so essential in a G&S opera.

Director Rae Lamond deserves full praise for an inventive production, bearing in mind the use of two differing production venues, which, necessarily, required minimal use of set pieces, but the use of heraldic banners helped to place Acts Two & Three. Musical Director Willie Campbell also brought out the singing to a high level for both experienced and inexperienced cast alike. The Company as a whole was provided with excellent backing by Carol Madden (Accompanist).

Well done DGASS! Look forward to seeing your fully staged production of Pirates of Penzance next February!