The fantastic reputation of The Phoenix Theatre in Ross-on-Wye is spreading further afield. NODA – the National Operatic and Dramatic Association, representing amateur theatre throughout the UK, has recognised the quality of production at The Phoenix.

At their West Midlands Regional Conference, held recently at Stourbridge, NODA awarded the prize for Best Drama of 2016 to The Phoenix Theatre for their production of ‘Anastasia’ in March last year.

It was the first Phoenix production that NODA had seen since the theatre joined the Association and the news that The Phoenix Theatre had been shortlisted for best play of the year came as a complete surprise to the company.

“The NODA representative was ecstatic on the night,” a spokesperson for the theatre said, “but we never suspected the play was being judged.”

At the awards ceremony at Stourbridge Town Hall, Brian Jackson (the play’s Director) and Michelle Cooper (in the title role) were invited onstage to receive the award before a packed audience of NODA delegates from theatres throughout the West Midlands.

The reputation of The Phoenix Theatre has grown in recent years; the theatre’s junior arm, Phoenix Youth Theatre has consistently won ‘Best Young Actor’, amongst their other awards, with their entries in the Hereford One-Act Play Festival.

Indeed, last year saw them progress to the second round in the National competition to perform in Worcester’s Swan Theatre. Earlier this year, ‘Can Malone Die’, written and directed by David Pollard, was successful in the senior section.