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We are a community drama group here in Toronto. We perform three times a season - a fall play, winter panto and a spring show - here in Toronto at the Tranzac stage.
This year we are celebrating our 35th anniversary of putting on shows ! - isn't that something? Make this year the one you come out to see us. Click on our Playbill to see upcoming performance dates.
If you have an interest in the theatre or just want to try something new, keep an eye out on our Calendar and come and join us at any of our events. We'd love to have you join the NAGs, so don't be shy.
From a couple of one-act plays to a full production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and just about everything in between, the NAGs have been a force to reckon with since 1976! Click here for a brief history of the group.
The committee is made up of three executive positions and eight production positions. All positions are elected each May at the Annual General Meeting.
The NAGs are one of the few community theatre groups in Toronto to present traditional pantomime. Panto is a tradition in England, typically performed around the Christmas holidays. We put ours on in February (don't ask why--even we don't know!).
Pantomime is traditionally based on nursery rhymes, and most of ours are, too. While it's typically for children, there's always enough sophisticated humour to appeal to the grown-ups, too. Well, OK, some of the humour isn't that sophisticated... but it's guaranteed to entertain!
In general, the plot follows the plot of the nursery rhyme. But we always add in the bad guys (if there weren't enough to start with), a man dressed up as a woman, some questionable singing, a bit of slapstick, and we end up with a great, entertaining show every time!
Check out the article, written by the late Dan Corcoran for our 20th anniversary, on the history of pantomime: Oh Yes I Can!. And have a look at some of our anecdotes from over the years.
For some more references, check out Pantoscripts.com, and for a detailed history, try The Old English Pantomime.
Who says rugby players never have good ideas?
In 1976 in fact, a few Nomad rugby players and their mates - Maggie and Dave (the Fysh) White, David Ridsdale, Lorna Miller, Pat McAdam, Joe Wray, Gail Beckus, Bernie and Rose Duff and Peter Daly - were having a few drinks at the Tranzac Club. Discussion moved on from the Nomads' latest performance (brilliant, of course) to acting and the plays they had done back 'ome. And somewhere in between "I remember when" and "you won't believe what happened on night", the Nomads Acting Group (NAGs) was born.
Those brave (some might say crazy, but the, we are dealing with rugby players) Nomads put on their first performances of Cupid is a Bum, Is a Bum, Is a Bum and Meet the Folks on April Fools' Day, 1976. The plays were a huge success. We're not certain whether it was the delight of seeing Nomads dressed up as actors, or the fact that the audience could have had a brew or two, but it seems everyone had a great time. So great in fact, the NAGs decided to do another play... and another one... and another one for the next 35 years. Give that we've done 82 plays, 34 pantomimes and three revues to date (listed over), we must be having a hell of a great time!
Where would we be without those visionaries who "had a go" 35 years ago, and the actors, actresses, production and front-of-house staff and audiences who together have made us what we are today? We've had many people pass through our ranks; some came and went; some stayed around. Great friendships have been made - even some great marriages - and children of NAGs have graced our stage.
We're an integral part of the Tranzac Club and have helped out with Caravan, the Fringe Festival, Flying Cloud and other groups who entertain people and support the arts. We donate the proceeds of our pantomime matinees to charities such as Variety Village and Kids Help Phone.
We're always looking for new blood, so please get in touch with us if you'd like to join us. You'll learn a lot about theatre while working with a great group of people.
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