It was certainly a 'Winter Night' with a howling east wind sweeping over Comyn straight from Russia, but to be 'ln' was a delight, a Welsh delight, of word, music and drama.

Betty Johnson sang to us, Donald McCallam, Anne Bacon and Jeanne Bennett read an 'Under Milkwood' extract to us and Pamela Beecham sang and acted Welsh Shirley Bassey's 'Big Spender'.

Apart from the song and dance it was a celebration of Dylan Thomas - who better to represent the contribution Wales has made to our culture, and where better than in llfracombe, which looks to, and has received so much from, the Principality.

'Under Milkwood' took us into village life, and 'A Child's Christmas in Wales' into the home. This was acted out by our Studio Theatre team that has given us so many magnificent productions, both here in the Studio and at the Landmark. This production, directed by Daphne Lock, was hastily put together in three weeks, so actors were using scripts, but its vigorous spontaneity gave reality to the domestic scene of a family getting together on Christmas day.

Alan Bailey led us in as Old Dylan remembering, and Jacob Bowden was a most convincing Boy Dylan, with worried parents, fussing aunts and uncles and teasing cousins.

But what a Christmas it was for them, with the oven exploding, firemen arriving - the burnt turkey and its twenty pound replacement from a local hotel — all interwoven with the young Dylan's belief that his new magic wand had brought about this magnificent result.

We, as an audience sitting around those who finally sat around the Christmas table, felt part of the scene and enjoyed all the songs and festivity.

Audience and actors had already supped gloriously from buffet contributed by members and so it seemed entirely appropriate to celebrate on a winter's night the joys of Christmas past, albeit only one month past.

Marge Ash was our warm hearted 'living programme', introducing the acts and events and giving thanks especially to Peggy Strudwick, who masterminded the buffet, and Daphne Lock the entertainment.

Thank you Studio Theatre.

Jim Bates