Look No Hans

HADDS stands for the Helperby And District Drama Society. This is a group actually located in the village where I live. It has been in existance since 1997 and has already produced a number of shows. Unlike Sessay, it does not perform any pantomime, preferring to concentrate on plays and the occasional music hall evening.

There is a big jump from 1997 until 2002 because I didn't have any involvement but that is not to say that nothing was performed. Such performances ought to be on the official HADDS site, but such a beast doesn't exist yet.

The society got off to a start with a special outdoor production of Blythe Spirit by Noel Coward. Since then the society has settled down into two productions a year cycle. There is a Christmas show designed to get members of the village involved who wouldn't ordinarily get on stage. This is done by having lots of short skits/songs/readings/etc. It also serves as a great fundraiser. The other production is more traditional taking the form so far of a number of one act plays. I tend to avoid the Christmas production since I'm usually busy with other projects although my non-participation in any Sessay pantomimes for the foreseeable future might mean that I have the time.

Since my appearances on the HADDS stage will now be a regular occurance, there will be regular updates to this portion of the site and they will be listed by the year in which they happened. Aside from the aforementioned Coward play, there are three other evening's entertainments to detail.

• Blythe Spirit was the first play that the group performed. I think it was 1997.
• 2002 details the plays Ernie's Incredible Illucidations, Costa del Packet and Last Tango in Helperby.
• 2003 has details of School Ties, A Collier's Tuesday Tea and Babysitting Calvin.
• 2004 has two pages. The first detailing the spring play, a three acter called 'A Tomb With a View'. The second detailing a short melodrama contained in the Christmas show.
• 2005 has details of the spring play entitled The Haunted Through Lounge and Recessed Dining Nook at Farndale Castle. There are the usual plethora of pictures and the accompanying text is almost as long as the play's title!
• 2006 sees HADDS put on a farce for the first time. The page for Look No Hans contains pictures that some people might find shocking as certain actors are in various stages of undress! Don't say I haven't warned you!

There have been other productions in other years, but I was not involved in them and have no evidence either photographic or remembered. If anyone reading this has pictures of the other plays then I might think about putting them up here. Please get in touch if you feel that you can help.