CDS holds 2026 AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Cayman Drama Society was held at the Prospect Playhouse on Friday 27th March 2026. It was a well-attended evening and thoroughly enjoyable since after the AGM itself, a series of presentations highlighted the productions and events for the remainder of the 2026 season and a glimpse of what is already planned for 2027.

Mike Bishop was re-elected Chairman and is supported by Judith Nicholls (Deputy Chairman), Chad Powell (Theatre Manager), Victoria Conner (Secretary) and Aidan O’Donoghue (Treasurer) on the Management Committee, and Alison Bishop, Erica Ebanks, Emily Harris, Caroline Neale-Allenger, Cynthia Powell, Nicola Moore-Gothar, Alena Valiaeva and Melanie Wright on the Executive Committee. Artistic Director and Head of Training, Haidee Elise, is also an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee.

Chairman Mike Bishop gave a breakdown of the 2025 season and its highlights including the appointment of new Artistic Director/Head of Training Haidee Elise to replace Kirsty O’Sullivan who he thanked for building the vibrant CayStage training community.

2010-2025 Outgoing Theatre Manager Paul de Freitas gave his final Theatre Manager’s report during which he nominated Chad Powell to the role as his replacement. The two have been working together on a number of productions over the past two years and expect that close working relationship to continue. It was noted that Mr. de Freitas is now the longest serving CDS Theatre Manager, a significance previously held by his mentor Peter Phillips.

Treasurer Aidan O’Donoghue noted a healthy financial position for CDS despite some loss of training revenue in the period of recruitment for the new Head of Training.

Voting for the new board as mentioned above was then followed by presentations from each of the directors of the coming season - IN THE HEIGHTS (Judith Nicholls and Cynthia Powell), SUMMER 1976 (Gavin McDougall), THE KITCHEN WITCHES (Caroline Neale-Allenger), ROOM ON THE BROOM (Emily Harris), and ELF (Jack Townson).

The evening concluded with the cutting of a Thank You cake for Past Theatre Manager Paul de Freitas and a bouquet of flowers for his wife Fay Anne de Freitas.

For information on joining the Cayman Drama Society see: www.cds.ky/JOIN-CDS