This year The Drama Society opened the batting with what could well be a new tradition! After last years Gasping, the 'over summer' show - produced during freshers fornight as an advertisement for the society - this year was 'Stags and Hens'. It featured and starred a few old hangers on like Mike Crane and myself, here to take up the story is er, me...

Directed by and also starring Sarah Biggin, Stags and Hens was without doubt a great start to the UHDS year. Also performed at the start of this academic year was The 32 hour challenge which finally didn't feature any plays for Coarse Actors but did feature, amongst the stalwart comedy plays a most atmospheric and serious piece called Shadows for which all involved, partcularly the lead Miisa Virtanen should be very much congratulated.

On the 1st of December Hutton Hall again played host to the society. A new production of "Through the Eye of the Needle" a short play penned by UHDS VP Sarah Moore about AIDS and its effects on a group ofriends was put on for World Aids day.

Moving on to this year's Panto, Snow White, which was perhaps unexpectedly penned by Chris Hanham and myself with a bit of help from Ken and John Wyatt - basically an all Madhatters script! I feel we just about managed to stop ourselves disappearing up own surreal arses with - and I quote, "a playful script" and a couple of "cracking musical numbers".

Unfortunately the production only got into its stride on the final night which all things considered was excellent. There were very disappointing audiences for all three nights and I think a bit of reaction on Wednesday and Thursday could have made all the difference.

While we're at it I'm planning a production of "An Inspector Calls" for the now dormant "Earnest" slot in February. A musical Rag Revue - also at about this time - consisting of show songs is being planned by Sarah Moore and Snow White co-director Naomi West.

And now onto the 1998 Musical which has been declared as 'Cabaret'. I hope all those who have seen it, especially those who have seen Chicago by the same writers, and everyone else will support it. Dates will follow but if you want to know what's up and when to go just call Simon. Madhatters may be unsurprised to learn that Johnny Meares has been approached re-music. Could this see another record breaking return to the drums for Simon Burges? As wellas Nathan on Bass, Stuart on Sax and Davey P on guitar. Basically Speakeasy strikes again!

Anyway, I really think we should congratulate the society as they are on track to produce a whopping 8 shows this year!

(Pehaps it should be mentioned that Tom Pitt-Chambers, current UHDS President and James Castro, stalwart of Tech, live with Si and this has nothing to do with Si's inability to tear himself away from the place, oh no!)