THE stage of Queen's University's Whitla Hall was the setting for a dramatic development at this morning's graduation ceremony when the first students to graduate in drama received their degrees.

The University's Head of Drama, David Grant, said: "Drama has wide relevance in the modern world.

"Many people will imagine that we are solely concerned with theatre and plays, and this is obviously an important aspect of our work. But drama also teaches teamwork and a creative approach to problem solving - both invaluable attributes for students seeking employment.

"The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has recently published a report asserting the importance of creativity in the new economy.

Drama, and its new sister subjects, Film Studies and History of Art, all have an important role to play in promoting these developments."

Two students graduated with First Class degrees.

Jonathan Harden and Geoff Pinfield both managed to combine distinguished academic records with a strong commitment to extra-curricular drama.

Both students were key to the revival of the Queen's University Drama Society this year.

Jonathan is currently working for the London International Festival of Theatre

New Zealander Geoff was the winner of the first Simon Callow Award for Theatre Criticism awarded earlier this year

Fifteen of the 32 new drama graduates came to Queen's after completing an HND in Performing Arts at Belfast Institue of Further and Higher Education

A new process allows students to take a further course of study to convert their Higher National Diplomas into Honours Degrees from the university.