• Leabrook Musical And Dramatical Society is a small theatrical group based at Leabrook Methodist Church, Leabrook Road North, Wednesbury. Officially formed in April 1993 the Society has rapidly progressed and has staged a successful array of different shows.

• The original idea was born following another successful Junior Church pantomime in March 1992. (The Junior Church has been putting on pantomimes since the early 1960's). Margaret Chillington and Martyn Palfreyman thought it would be a good idea to stage a variety concert to raise money for the Junior Church Charity project. "Concert And Comedy 1992" took place on November 27th 1992 to a sell out audience and was a rousing success. From this success came the idea of forming a music and drama group and MADS was formed in April 1993. In October of that year "Concert And Comedy 1993" was staged, again under the directorship of Margaret Chillington and Martyn Palfreyman as Musical Director.

• 1994 saw a change when Margaret Chillington stepped down and John Hughes was asked to become chairman/director. 1994 saw MADS present a show called "A Trip Down Memory Lane" - another home- made show with music and action from the 60's back to the Old Tyme Music Hall.

• In February 2001, to try and raise some money towards this years show, we staged a "Skool Dinner Evening". The members of MADS and most of the people who attended dressed in school uniform and John Hughes was "Headmaster" for the evening. The food, "bangers & mash" and "rolly polley pudding" was all prepared by members of MADS. A good night was had by all.

• In addition to the major shows we have staged, MADS gives regular short concerts at local churches, nursing and residential homes and hospitals and we have taken part in all the first two Wednesbury Arts Festivals. In 2004 we were asked to sing carols in the town market hall after the Mayor had switched on the Christmas lights. We also stage a Christmas concert in the Church at Leabrook. This is a time for all the members of MADS to let their hair down and to sing what they want to sing, whether it be pop, opera or anything in-between.

• In September 2005 we were asked to sing for the Wednesbury Music Society. We agreed to this even though it was in the middle of our rehearsals for South Pacific. The concert took place in the Wednesbury Art Gallery. The audience and ourselves both enjoyed the concert.

• Later in 2005, we were again asked to sing at the switching on of the Wednesbury Christmas lights. This year we sung in the Market Hall itself with Martyn playing the keyboard and Maurice Chillington on the drums.

• Our Christmas Concert this year took the form of a "fish & chip supper" followed by a concert in the Church to accommodate the number of people requiring tickets. This concert was also a great success.

• MADS has grown over the years and we have now got about 45 members with ages ranging from 10 to 70+. Our members come from all walks of life and backgrounds. Whatever has to be done, we all muck in and have a go. We make and paint all our own scenery, we beg, borrow and make props and we make a lot of our own costumes. We do all our own choreography and we do our own sound and light work. (Damian Mayne with the help of some other MADS members as labourers rewired and upgraded the stage lighting in 1999 for "My Fair Lady".)

• All our productions are the results of a team of people working together to achieve a common goal. The ethos of MADS is "we are here to enjoy ourselves, if we get an audience, that is a bonus. If the audience enjoy our efforts, that is an even bigger bonus. But our main aim is to enjoy what we are doing."