SOUTHEND Drama Society members are celebrating after winning the latest round of a knockout theatre competition.

After winning the area heat, the group are now through to the regional semi-finals of the All England Theatre Festival with its production of the one-act comedy, the Last Bread Pudding by Nick Warbuton.

The society has hit this marker once before, in 2004, with its stage version of Ink and Incapability from the TV sitcom Blackadder.

The semi-final for the eastern division is scheduled to take place at the Eastwood Studio Theatre at Eastwood School, Rayleigh Road, Leigh, on Saturday, May 23.

The event starts at 6pm.