COWLEY International College is nominated in seven categories for the National Operatic and Dramatic Association Awards.

Cowley International College has received seven nominations for the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) North West District Awards 2023 for their whole school musical production, Evita.

The College's production of Evita, which saw participation from students from each year group, ran for five nights and six performances during October 2023 and was a huge hit with sold out audiences as the College received fantastic feedback.

Representatives from NODA were invited into the rehearsal room before attending one of the evening performances to give them a full insight into the hard work that all the students and staff put into making the show.

This has led to the College receiving nominations in the following categories:

  • Best Leading Male Character in a Youth Musical & Best Leading Male Character in a Youth Drama
  • Best Leading Female Character in a Youth Musical & Best Leading Female Character in a Youth Drama,
  • Best Supporting Female Character in a Youth Musical
  • Best Musical Director of a Youth Production
  • Best Director of a Youth Musical & Best Director of a Youth Drama
  • Best Youth Ensemble
  • Best Youth Musical & Best Youth Drama.

Assistant Headteacher and Strategic Lead of Performing Arts at Cowley, Mr Watkins, said: "It is wonderful to receive such recognition from NODA as a lot of hard work was put in by both students and staff to make Evita as good a show as we could possibly put on.

"We have some fantastically talented students and staff at Cowley and it's lovely for their talent and hard work to be acknowledged in this way. I'm extremely proud of them all."

Cowley prides itself on their Performing Arts offering, with Cowley Sixth Form College running a BTEC Professional Musical Theatre course which is extremely popular amongst students, as well as their equally popular BTEC Music Performance course.

The NODA Awards ceremony is due to take place in April 2024 with Cowley competing against the best youth amateur dramatic productions from across the North West region.

Principal, Mr Cormack, added: "I am extremely proud of all the students and staff involved for the College to receive these nominations.

"It is brilliant news and well-deserved recognition for all the hard work that went into making such a professional-looking show.

"The whole school musical production is one of the highlights of the College calendar and I am always overwhelmed at how well our students perform with a live orchestra and in front of large audiences.”