A Bunch Of Amateurs – NODA Award 2023
Octopus Drama Group are honoured to receive the Peter Wheeldon Memorial Trophy (South West Region) for their fantastic production of “A Bunch of Amateurs” directed by Abi McManus.
NODA Said:
“This small company always have to build their own stage and then design, build and paint their own sets whilst also creating costumes. For this production of A Bunch of Amateurs they made great use of the 15th century church hall which lent lots of authentic atmosphere to the setting of the play in an old barn. They had kept some of the walls on view and built flats, which did not detract from the beauty of the building, but gave them a working set, with hinged units which unfolded for other locations.
It was amazing as usual.”
Aladdin – NODA Review March 2022
This pantomime had plenty for everyone to enjoy, a small person sitting near me was delighted by the Keystone Cops routine. Under the experienced direction of Alison Bagnall the whole company worked well together, appreciating being back on stage performing, and delighting the audience. Everyone, both cast and audience had a fun evening. More….
Finding Buttons – NODA Review January 2020
This entertaining original script follows the story of Buttons and Cinderella after she and the Prince are married. It has a lovely beginning with ‘The Wild Things’, a group of forest creatures, entering through the audience and singing a song, which recaps the story. More….
Rumours – NODA Review June 2019
This is an extremely challenging play in many ways, not least the requirements of the set. I had recently seen another production of this play and wondered how the complex set of five practical doors with a staircase which leads to a landing with two of the doors opening from it, could possibly be fitted onto the tiny stage of this venue. But once again, stage manager, Geoff Gill had worked his magic with the help of his hard working stage crew; it was a triumph. More….
Robin Hood – NODA Review January 2019
It is certainly the year of Robin Hood as this is the second I had seen in week and it will not be the last. It is always fascinating to see what the different interpretations of the same story turn out to be. More….
Twelfth Night – NODA Review June 2018
This play, which was a change from the lighter comedy often performed by the group, had been well interpreted and well directed. The audience thoroughly enjoyed it. More….
Peter Pan – The Pantomime – NODA Review January 2018
This version of Peter Pan had some interesting variations and additions to the story. There was a Dame called Nana, who had a dog called Nana, Peter’s shadow was a person and a group of characters from Wonderland who had lost their way and were late for The Queen’s party, and somehow ended up in Never Land. Young people played Michael and John Darling and many of the pirates, with Wendy, Peter, Tinkerbell and the Lost Boys being played by adults, it worked very well. More….
Littleford’s Got Talent
Nominated for NODA for Imaginative Compilation Show award. Congratulations to Octopus and Lizzie Lindsell who created and directed it.
NODA Review October 2017
This was a clever compilation show with members offering items for performance to director Lizzie Lindsell, who then wrote a play, creating characters and dialogue, which linked everything together. It had been set vey simply with the stage divided into two areas; one was the `Stage` for the Talent show with glitter curtains, and the other the dressing room/wings area stage right. More….
Snow White
Nominated for the NODA June Barker Memorial CUP for Best Pantomime award.
NODA Review January 2016
Once again my visit to this Company brought my first Pantomime of the season, and it certainly compensated for the wet night outside. This is always a Community event involving all ages, well supported by the local community, with references to the local community in it, plenty of opportunity for audience participation and a good, fun evening More….
Allo `Allo – NODA Review June 2015
The play was adapted from the hugely popular television series of 85 episodes of the same name. It has been well adapted for the stage using some of the characters from television and following a few of the main story lines. Transferring to the stage means that the number of settings has to be reduced, even so there are still seven acting areas required. The set had been very cleverly designed More….
A Single Moment
Congratulations to member, Tony Domaille, whose play, A Single Moment, was awarded runner up in the national best original script competition.
Congratulations to Shelagh Fagan whose performance in Tony’s play won her the Best Supporting Actress award at the Avon One Act Plays festival. The play was also runner up for best play at the festival.
The Nutcracker Soldier – NODA Review January 2015
I looked forward to my visit to Octopus and the first Pantomime of the season. As usual with this group it had been written and directed by a member of the company, and it was of a high standard. This was an interesting adaptation of the story of the Nutcracker Soldier brought to life in Pantomime form. It is Christmas Eve and the Winkelhoff family are hosting a party. More….
The Winslow Boy
Nominated for the NODA award for South-West best drama production 2014.
NODA review June 2014
The choice of the Winslow Boy was a change to the comic genre, usually associated with this group. Written by Terence Rattigan and based on a true story which occurred before the First World War. The boy was expelled from Osborne Naval College after being accused of stealing a £5 postal order and tells of his father’s fight to prove his innocence More…
Off the Hook – NODA Review June 2013
I was looking forward to an entertaining evening with this Derek Benfield farce, and I was not disappointed. The moment you walked into the Hall and saw the set you knew mayhem would soon ensue. There were four doors, a staircase and an archway leading to goodness knows where. As always with this group, the set depicting the entrance hall and reception area of a small country Hotel, had been designed and built to a very high standard, with excellent attention to detail More….
Dick Whittington saves the London Olympics – NODA Review January 2013
Each Pantomime from this Company is written by a member of the group and tailored for those who wish to participate, often resulting in a young cast, who are always brilliantly supported by more experienced members. The tale of Dick Whittington is set in 1812 and all of London is getting ready to host the Olympic Games. Sir Alan Fitzwarren has invested a great deal of money in the Games and hopes they will be a success. Dick and the extremely clever Tom Cat arrive in London More….