The Women in Our Company

	Abi
	Ailsa After moving to W-s-M from Swansea 10 years ago, 2009 is Ailsa's return to the amateur stage. By day she is a mild mannered special needs teaching assistant in Worle Community School, but by night she can't stop 'hoofing'!
	Alison Ali joined WODS to take part in Calamity Jane in 2002.  She loves singing and really enjoys the feel-good factor of being part of a show.
	Amy
	Anita Anita joined WODS in May 2008. She is currently studying at Weston College for a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts.
	Ann Ann has been with WODS since 2001. She has been involved in music all her life - her first solo was at the age of five at Sunday School! She has been in choirs, choral societies, amateur operatic societies, folk groups, country rock groups ... musical all-sorts! Ann's claim to fame is that she sang in the choir in Caernarvon Castle for the Investiture of the Prince of Wales. She started life in Newport, South Wales and spent time in Bristol and London before settling in Weston in 1979.
	Anna I knew I wanted to perform from the age of 3 when I first started ballet lessons.  Although ballet was not my forte (!) my parents always supported this ambition and encouraged it.  I studied Performing Arts at Bridgwater College and then went on to complete a degree in Drama at Liverpool John Moores University. After graduating in 2002 I auditioned for M&M Theatrical Productions based in Ayr, got the job and stayed with them for 6 years touring Primary schools throughout the UK.  I first performed with WODs in 2005 standing in at the last minute as Reno for the matinee of Anything Goes and I'm now looking forward to performing the part of Sally in Me and My Girl.  Past performances include Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Lucy in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Miranda in Return to the Forbidden Planet and most recently playing Private Lunar in M&M Theatrical Productions flagship production of The Kosmic Krew.
	Bev When a member of the company asked Bev to come and watch their production of "Oklahoma!" in 2001, she was so impressed with the talent and professionalism of the performance she thought, why not have a go! Bev joined WODS in spring 2002, and has taken part in most shows since then. Bev lives with her daughter in Worle and works in a busy professional hair salon.  She feels she has made some great friends within the company and enjoys the team spirit and enthusiasm that goes into every rehearsal and show.
	Carol
	Carrie
	Cathy Cathy's first singing experience was touring Scandinavia and Austria with her college choir.  Later on, she joined the Saltford Singers and then Keynsham Light Operatic Society where she took part in "Guys and Dolls".  Following a move, Cathy next took the part of Connie, one of the three lovely Boylan sisters in "Annie", with the Bristol Light Operatic. Cathy now has two teenage children and enjoys working as a learning support assistant in a local primary school.  She is now looking forward to continuing her singing with WODS.
	Corrine
	Emma I joined WODS in 2006 to 'help out' with what turned out to be my first lead role! "Pajama Game" was fantastic fun, and I've enjoyed each production since then.  I have been in amateur dramatics since 2002, when I became a member of Clevedon Light Opera Club... my drama degree and dance lessons have certainly helped out, as Lois and Carrie do put dancers through their paces!  "Me & My Girl" will be my 15th show in total, so I hope to stay with WODS for many years to come, and would like to thank them for being such a great club.
	Fran
	Hayley M
	Hayley R
	Heather
	Jean I was 5 when I first sang on stage for a church concert - the song - If I was the only girl in the world, and you were the only boy.  After that I carried on singing in church choirs, school choirs and Youth club concerts, then I found boys and married.  In 1983 I moved from Derbyshire to Weston super Mare. I joined WODS in 1989 and my introduction to the Playhouse Theatre was "Orpheus in the Underworld."  It was very scary, but I really enjoyed it, the roar of the grease paint and smell of the crowds come to mind!  I was hooked, performing and singing became my most enjoyable hobby.  I sing in the chorus, but have enjoyed cameo parts such as Prudence in "Bless the Bride," and a singing servant in Henry Higgins household on both the occasions we performed "My Fair Lady."  I have also sung with Weston super Mare Savoyards for five years and played the part of Kate in "Pirates of Penzance."
	Jo
	Kate I was first bitten by the Musical Theatre bug way back in 1992, when I watched a WODS production at The Playhouse Theatre. I then joined Spectrum Drama Group, WODS Junior section performing musicals & pantomimes locally. I ventured to the main society a few years later and subsequently joined WSM Savoyards for a few years. Past performances include: Mrs Brown in Me & My Girl, Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar, Mae in The Pajama Game, Peep Bo in The Mikado & Fiametta in The Gondoliers. Coming full circle, I joined Spectrum as Director in 2006.
	Kirsty
	Linda
	Lisa-Marie Lisa has been with WODS for thirteen years. She has run children's drama groups for many years and is now joint principal of the highly acclaimed 'Chelis Theatre Company'. She has a BA Hons degree from Plymouth University in Theatre and Performance with Music and is part of the performing arts department at Weston College as a course tutor. She thoroughly enjoys all her performance work with WODS and has played many roles in her time there.
	Lizzie
	Lois Lois started with the society in 1990 as a junior member (Spectrum); she then joined the main company a year later to work backstage for Guys and Dolls.  Since then she has been a regular member of the chorus and has been a dancer in many shows.  She remained a helper in Spectrum until 2001 and started to choreograph their shows alongside Carrie and Director Lisa.  In 2001 the choreography team moved up to the main society to "set the moves" for Oklahoma and are continuing to try to get the men to move!!!  She and Carrie proved such a successful team that they are now the company's resident choreographers.  Their use of the stage and ability to set a simple yet very effective dance is proving a great asset to the society.
	Louise Louise Joined WODS in 2003, her first show being "Fiddler on The Roof".  She became an active member of the society and within a few months was voted on to the committee as Secretary.  Louise is no stranger to the theatrical world, as she works at Stage Electrics as a Technical Buyer and Adviser having worked on numerous West End shows and tours. An old member of Christchurch Theatre Club in Leicestershire her shows include "La Cage Aux Follies" and "Hello Dolly" where Danny la Rue played the leading roles.  She enjoys being a member of the society and looks forward to more challenging roles in the future.
	Megan
	Natalie Natalie has been performing since the age of nine when she got her very first role strolling across the stage in a production of "Charlie Girl".  Since then she hasn't stopped performing all over the place including NYC and most of Europe! She moved to Weston in 2005 and joined Weston Operatic playing Laurey in "Oklahoma!" and Edith in "Pirates of Penzance". She then joined Worle Operatic & Dramatic in 2009 for "Return to the Forbidden Planet" and had so much fun we are now stuck with her forever!
	Rachael
	Rita
	Sally
	Sam
	Sarah G Sarah's first experience of Amateur Dramatics was in South London when she appeared as one of the Von Trapp children in the "Sound of Music" (several years ago!).  She went on to perform in many shows there including "My Fair Lady", "Camelot" and "The Boyfriend".  Sarah joined WODS in 1998 and loves all aspects of being in a show, particularly the dancing. Sarah is a teacher in a local Primary School.
	Sarah T Sarah joined WODS in 2002 after performing with a local Gilbert & Sullivan society. She works at a primary school in Worle as a Pupil Support Worker. She is married with two daughters.  Sarah enjoys the camaraderie that is WODS!! And loves every minute. She sees it as her "time out" to be herself and has made many close friends.  Although singing in the chorus, Sarah took a small part as a "menacing Indian" in the 2002 performance of "Calamity Jane".  She says she thoroughly enjoyed making the part her own and had great fun!  That's what it's all about!!
	Sheila
	Steph
	Trish Trish is a well respected local infant teacher and also one of our leading principal actors. She trained in drama at college in London (she loves Ibsen) and has put her skills to good use for the society ever since. She has played many leading roles including Liza Doolittle (My Fair Lady), Nellie Forbush (South Pacific), Kate (Kiss Me Kate), Golde (Fiddler on the Roof) as well as many supporting parts.  In 2002 she wowed the audiences with her portrayal of Calam in "Calamity Jane". She loves to play comedy parts and her sense of fun on stage really comes over to the audience. Her most recent performance was Golde in "Fiddler on the Roof", where her sensitive portrayal of a mother and wife in a time of crisis earned her well deserved praise.
	Venetia
	Yvonne "I have been with the society for over five years.  For as long as I can remember I have been a member of the audience in many an amateur production. Family commitments had stopped me from joining in this, what appeared to me to be a very enjoyable pastime. So as soon as my family were self-sufficient I joined WODS. I sing happily in the chorus whilst at the same time I have been performing small (but may I say important) roles, which I have really enjoyed doing. I also sing in the chorus for a local Gilbert and Sullivan Society. I was right it really is a very enjoyable pastime."