NEWPORT Playgoers were among the winners at the 2015 Gwent Drama League Awards.

The musical comedy ‘Nunsense’ won the award for Best Overall Production, with Claudia Barnes taking the award for Best Comedy Moment for the routine where she accidentally gets high, in her role as Mother Superior.

The award for Best Play went to ‘According to Claudia’ by local playwright Phil Mansell for his story of a family reunion in which skeletons galore come tumbling out of the closet. Several cast members were also nominated for Best Actor awards. The play previously won the best Theatre Show award presented by entertainment and lifestyle magazine Voice.

Also among the winners was Alys Rodley of Playgoers’ youth theatre group, Dolman Theatre Works, for her role as Wendy in ‘Peter Pan’.

Playgoers New Generation received nominations for best actors and best play for their production of ‘The Canterville Ghost’.

The Adjudicator’s Award went to the Dolman Theatre for providing a wonderful venue where so many productions are staged.

The awards evening, held at the Dolman Theatre, was a glittering occasion to which all the local drama and musical societies turned out in force to be entertained with songs from some of many productions, and pick up an array of awards from Gwent Drama League adjudicator Alan Hayes.

“It was a great evening, made even more special by my play winning this prestigious award,” said Phil Mansell.

“Playgoers received nominations in many of the categories and it can’t have been easy for the adjudicator to pick out the best from some amazing productions."

Playgoers are always seeking new members to work both onstage and behind the scenes to keep the 400-seat Dolman Theatre running. For more information or to book tickets for forthcoming productions call 01633 263670 or visit www.dolmantheatre.co.uk.