AN AMATEUR theatrical society in Tavistock is celebrating this week after winning a prestigious award for its Gilbert and Sullivan production Pirate of Penzance.

The Tavistock Musical Theatre Company’s autumn production last year was its best box office success and now the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) has deemed it the best too.

‘To win the best Gilbert and Sullivan (G and S) production in the South West is no mean achievement, especially when competing against the big boys,’ said the show’s producer Pete Clement. ‘Both Bath and Bristol G and S societies were in this competition so we are delighted to have won. We can now call ourselves an award-winning G and S company!

‘It’s put us in a different league now and there was a real feeling of elation when our name was called out.’

The company, which has previously won a NODA award of excellence for its production of Anything Goes, has put its success down to teamwork, hard work and a great camaraderie.

Pirates of Penzance was directed by Julian Bennett with Rosemary Fox as musical director and Patty Stott as choreographer and costume maker.

Julian Bennett said the award ceremony at the hotel in Bristol was a bit like being at the Grammies or the Oscars!: ‘They had a screen up showing photos of all the productions nominated and when they said we had won I was gobsmacked,’ he said.

‘There were some really large theatre companies in the competition and then us, dear little Tavistock! It was such a surprise to win — I really wasn’t expecting it at all.’

Julian and Pete said everyone had contributed to this win from the set designers to the lighting crew and the cast

‘We all do everything here because we are on such a tight budget,’ said Julian. ‘The principals in the show are often putting up scenery on a Sunday morning for the dress rehearsal and taking it down on a Saturday night after the last performance.

‘It is very much a team effort — all the sets and costumes are made in-house and our aim is to do our best we can.

We may not have the best singers or dancers but we aim for the highest standards we can achieve. As long as we work hard and have fun we are happy.

‘’We are an all-inclusive group and give everyone a chance — that is the strength of the Tavistock Musical Theatre Company. I have been in shows in Plymouth and Paignton and Torquay and it is often the case with bigger companies that if your face does not fit or you don’t match what they are looking for you don’t get in.

‘Here we welcome everybody and we help them grow and progress. We have several people in our society who had their first principal roles with us and gone on to higher things. It is wonderful to see them do so well.’