IN THE middle of the recent hugely successful run of Holsworthy Amateur Theatrical Society’s pantomime ‘Dick Whittington and His Cat’, news came that the society’s previous production, Michael Frayn’s farce ‘Noises Off’, performed at the HATS theatre last September, has been awarded the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) South West District 7 Achievement Award, writes Christine Williams.

It has also been nominated for the NODA South West Best Comedy Production Award, the winner of which will be announced at the NODA Gala Dinner in Bristol March 5.

The news was given by NODA’s Nick Lawrence when he came to the theatre to see the pantomime.

Congratulations go to the play’s producer, Sarah O’Connor, who said: “I’m thrilled. It was an ambitious undertaking and the award was well deserved by the cast who gave their all, the stage crew, who made such a magnificent set which was crucial to this production, the props, costumes and front of house teams, indeed everyone who put in so much effort to make it such a success.”

Readings and casting for the HATS’ next production to be presented in May, two one-act comedies, ‘Black Comedy’ by Peter Schaffer and Tom Stoppard’s ‘The Real Inspector Hound’, are taking place this week.