Pershore Operatic and Dramatic Society

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In September, PODS staged an 80s singalong.

This was a great way for us to make funds to support the brilliant standard of our Summer and Winter shows each year. It was a fun night with singing and dancing in the audience and on the stage.

Well done to all that arranged this event.

What a great evening for those who attended the Games Night held at the Kitchen in Wyre Piddle.

There was fun and laughter to be had at this social event!

Thank you so much to Heidi for hosting a super evening. 

To be nominated for an award by

NODA

really is a huge honour that every musical theatre Society holds dear.

It is a ringing endorsement of the talent,

skills and quality within our Society, and of the entertainment that we bring to our audiences.

To be nominated for one show is

a huge tribute to all our members and supporters. To be nominated twice in a single year, recognising both of our productions in 2022 is phenomenal.

Congratulations and thanks to our cast, production volunteers, Patrons and supporters.

Maid Marian and The Merry Men

Our audience cheered a good dose of girl power as Maid Marian and

her Merry Men saw off the evil Sheriff and put Nottingham (and Pershore!)

to rights just in time for Christmas !

Packed houses and amazing audience reactions helped PODS start the Christmas holiday period off in style with another quality show with something for all the family !

Written by Kit Hunter and Directed with style by our very own first-time directors

Hannah Burton and Lindsey Kirby, this hilarious new take on the Robin Hood legend stretched preconceptions further than Marian's longbow, much to the enjoyment of our discerning audience, young and old alike.

'Maid Marian and The Merry Men' joins PODS' long list of entertaining and memorable Christmas productions, and we would like to thank our audience

for your continued generous support and patronage.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

from

Maid Marian, The Merry Men, and everyone at PODS !

Bonfire and Fireworks Party

A great evening was had by all

when our very own Steve Miller invited his PODS friends to a fireworks and bonfire party hosted by his family on November 5th !

Thanks so much to Steve and Lucy for a superb evening of good food, great company, and of course the traditional Guy Fawkes night entertainment. 

Mad about Musicals

took Pershore Operatic and Dramatic Society to new heights, with a discerning audience

knowing an amazing performance when they saw and heard one !

No opening night jitters in this show, as early applause built as the show went on, through to loud cheers of appreciation and a long and well-deserved first night standing ovation.

By Tuesday morning the word was all over Pershore, and the last few tickets were selling fast.

By Wednesday the remaining shows were sold out, with anxious people calling the box office and asking for returns !

That rapturous applause and standing ovation on the opening night, was followed by even greater appreciation every night thereafter, and a huge wave of glowing reviews have come from every

direction. From people in the street, via email, across social media, and on BBC Local radio.

As the curtain falls on our show, under the direction of Judy Megarry, PODS have done it again, 

and Pershore is Mad About Musicals !

On Bank holiday Monday 2^nd May, Pershore was treated to the spectacular carnival procession celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, with the theme "1952 to 2022: Inventions of the past 70 years".

While not taking part in the procession this year, PODS members, and cast and crew of our forthcoming show 'Mad About Musicals' entertained the crowds with music from well-known Broadway and West End shows, while taking the opportunity to publicise the show. 

On April 22nd Members, former members, patrons, and partners flocked to the annual

PODS skittles tournament at Pershore Sports Club in Defford Rd.

Players and families competed for the Andrew Clasen Memorial Cup, kindly donated by

Sue Clasen in memory of Andrew – a great supporter of PODS. 

A nail-biting skittles competition was rounded off perfectly with a fish ‘n chip supper,

consolation for those whose skittles ability failed to make the grade !

A superb lesson in skittles from Lucy Miller won the night, and her victory was crowned beautifully by the presentation of the Andrew Clasen Memorial Cup by Sue Clasen.

During the evening we also took the opportunity to present NODA Long service awards to Sue Price and Brian Ireland.

On Wednesday 6th April PODS members, patron, and show volunteers gathered in number in the auditorium in Number 8 for our 2022 Annual General Meeting.

Using the long Covid break as motivation to do things differently, the society tried out a less formal and hopefully more engaging format for our comeback AGM. With much of the formal reporting having been communicated to everyone ahead of the meeting in PODS' spring newsletter, the stage was set for a slick and entertaining AGM.

Outgoing Chair David Hemming gave a moving address, thanking everyone for their support during his term at the helm, through the unprecedented and extremely challenging Covid pandemic, before announcing the newly elected committee for 2022-23.

Allan Brodie addressed the meeting on behalf of Number 8 and spoke warmly about the importance of the special relationship between Number 8 and PODS as the resident theatrical company and close working partner.

We were fortunate to have NODA's Bruce Wyatt in attendance to present long-service awards to a number of society members, including Diana Miller, accepting her award for a magnificent 70 years of service to amateur theatre.

With the formal business of the meeting drawing to a close, the cast of our forthcoming production 'Mad About Musicals' treated members, volunteers and patrons to a performance of 'A Musical' featured in the show.

We are pleased to announce that on Friday 11th February tickets went on sale for our forthcoming show, Mad About Musicals, at Number 8 Pershore, from 13th-18th June 2022

Directed by Judy Megarry and taking you on a whistle stop tour from the heart of West End theatreland to the glitz of Broadway, PODS will celebrate the very best songs from classic and contemporary musicals.

Over thirty shows are featured from Les Miserables, Phantom, Chicago, Waitress, South Pacific, Ghost, Rent, Dear Evan Hanson and many, many more. Featuring brilliant vocal performances, stunning choreography, a live band, spectacular visuals and fabulous costumes.

A slice of pure entertainment!

Directed by Judy Megarry with musical direction by

Andrew Hemming

As the pandemic began to recede and life began a tentative return to normal with the relaxing of retrictions,

PODS determination to be at the forefront of returning to the stage brought the theatre at Number 8 back to life.

It was at this point that Victoria Annis and Matt Owens took the plunge, and applied their well-established stage talent to the twin challenges of Producing and Directing a show for their first time, while steering the cast and crew safely through constantly changing Covid rules. Supported by the talented Andrew Hemming as musical director, PODS were back.

With pent up enthusiasm and the combined talent of our cast and production crew finally unleashed, PODS set about bringing live theatre back to Number 8. 

Sizeable audiences flocked to Number 8 to see the first live shows in 18 months, and they were rewarded with a spectacular, modern and energetic production of 'Snow White'.

See the NODA review by Bruce Wyatt on our 'PODS and our Productions' page.

As time went on through March it became clear that Covid was spreading rapidly across the whole world, and that all areas of life including entertainment and live theatre would be unlikely to escape.

On 16th March the government announced lockdown measures including the temporary closure of all theatres.

Our rehearsals for 'Chicago' have been suspended until further notice and Number 8 is now closed.

PODS will return.