Nomad Theatre annual report for 2004

Although we staged fewer productions than in the previous year we have some exciting shows, in particular the production of Henry V with a cast of 34, mostly men. All the productions were on our main stage. Hence the low number of seats sold for Steel Magnolias which was originally intended to be a studio production. With all the other activities in the theatre, the rehearsal room, our studio venue, was needed for rehearsals for shows in the theatre and also festival entries elsewhere, Young Nomad activities, an increased number of children's workshops and inclusive projects involving actors with disabilities.

Our children's workshops were redesigned, each session lasting two hours with two tutors. The numbers increased from 35 to nearly 100. During the summer holidays two week long courses were run and introduced more young people to the theatre.

The Young Nomads have continued to provide plenty of help with most productions as well as holding their own weekly activities; they now also have a weekly dance workshop.

The activities involving actors with disabilities have expanded and have included a series of workshops for beginners, a play mounted in a week, the sixth year, and a further show staged by a group participating in the National Theatre's Shell Connections project, presenting a new play by Patrick Marber.

A group of our members of retirement age have started recording short radio plays to be added to each edition of Surrey's Talking Newspaper.

Members of all ages played a major role in the production of a community play, The Wey We Were, organised by two local borough councils and presented in the Farnham Maltings and the Nomad Theatre.