this year, which includes nine productions. Most notable of these is Old Time Music Hall, which is playing this week in celebration of the club's 50th anniversary. BMDS picked an old time music hall to commemorate its golden anniversary in an effort to get as many people involved on-stage as possible and to celebrate the anniversary of the Daylesford theatre, which also showcased a music hall on its opening nights 20 years ago, said drama committee chairman Ms Sue Power. Other productions planned for the year include Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare, A chorus of Disapproval by Alan Ayckbourn and Murder by Misadventure by Edward Taylor. Also included in the line-up is a traditional pantomime called Robin Hood & Babes in the Wood, with guest director Duggie Chapman. According to the Constitution of the Society, BMDS is a volunteer organisation that is dedicated to the stimulation of interest in and appreciation of music, drama and the cognate arts. The aims of the club shall be to further these purposes, to engage in musical and dramatic activities, to sponsor concerts, dramatic productions and lectures and to establish and maintain suitable facilities for such activities. The club also aims to establish and maintain educational facilities in the said arts. BMDS has approximately 500 members, of which 200 are actively involved, according to president Mr. Adrian Lee-Emery, noting that the Christmas show is always the biggest production involving about 200 people, both on stage and behind the scenes. Mr. Lee-Emery, who has been an active member for 24 years and president for three years, said that BMDS membership changes frequently.

"We have a rolling membership. It keeps changing which is good because we are always getting new ideas and skills -- it gives us new direction in which to move the Society forward,'' he said. Indeed the club has moved forward in the last decade, most notably in its technological advancement. "The lighting, sound equipment and quality of the technical side of all productions is 100 percent better,'' said Mr. Lee-Emery, adding that he is pleased with the progress of BMDS. "We've had our own theatre for the last 20 years, which means we can put on a production whenever we want,'' he said. "When I first became a member, it was a major exercise to get a show off the ground because we didn't have the same resources.'' One of the major changes for the future at BMDS includes a spread of taste in productions through the efforts of the drama committee. Formerly, directors approached the committee with a script, which if feasible would be used. But starting in 1996, the drama committee will select a script from various fields in order to ensure a bigger balance of plays, said Ms Power. The five areas from which scripts will be selected include comedy, drama, farce, musical and mystery, said Mr. Lee-Emery. Each play will be slotted in throughout the year and various directors will be approached and asked if they are interested, added Ms Power. But there will still be room for additional plays of any category, she said. PHOTO LITTLE FOXES -- Evelyn McGregor starred as Regina Giddeus in Little Foxes, which was presented by BMDS in the Daylesford theatre.