From 1st September
2008 societies who are full members of NODA can apply to the Really Useful
Group for a licence to perform "The Likes of Us". As this is only
available to NODA societies it would be helpful if any Society in the West
Midlands Region could contact/email the West Midlands Councillor, Tony
Derbyshire, to advise that you have made the application. Tony can then
monitor such applications and if there are any undue delays or problems, Tony
can enlist the support of NODA HQ if necessary to help resolve such issues.
The Likes of Us was the first collaboration between the award-winning team of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The relationship began when a 17 year old Lloyd Webber recieved a letter from then 21 year old Rice offering himself as a "with-it writer". And there a winning partnership was born.
Although written in 1965, The Like of Us has only ever been performed twice, and Rice and Lloyd Webber moved on to global hits such as Joseph, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar. However, The Like of Us was never forgotten and now with the approval of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber it is being launched by the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) and the Really Useful Group (RUG) to amateur theatre prior to its professional release and eventual appearance in the West End. Not only is this a brave and ground-breaking move, but an exciting one for anyone involved in theatre.
The Likes of Us
is the story of the life of Dr Thomas Barnardo, a man who was evangelical, entrepreneurial
and philanthropic, and whose crusade to rescue children living on the street
became world renowned. Described as "a musical that has existed for 40 years
hidden away from view" The Likes of Us is Oliver!-esque in
style and is best known for the much quoted Tim Rice lyric:
