A SHINING young talent has won yet another award for a performance at Ponteland Repertory Society.

Twenty-year-old Leo Emmerson won the North Performance award from the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) for his part as Toad in Wind and the Willows.

Leo said: “At first I was really shocked to have been nominated because I didn’t know until people from Ponteland Repertory Society started congratulating me!

“I am absolutely ecstatic to have won. It makes me feel like I did a good job, because it’s not always easy to see that for yourself.”

The NODA Performance awards were held at the Rainton Meadows Arena in Houghton-Le-Spring on September 10.

Leo, who is from Newcastle, began performing at Ponteland Repertory Society two years ago, and this is the second NODA award he has won for a performance there.

Last year, he received the NODA North Youth Award for his performance in OH! What a Lovely War.

After being turned down from a number of theatre academies when he was 17, Leo began gaining experience with Ponteland Repertory Society and other amateur groups.

Following his recent successes, he has moved to London to begin a course at the Italia Conti Theatre Academy.

He said: “Ponteland Repertory Society really is the spark that started getting things going for me and I daresay I would not be where I am today without them. I have so much to thank them for.

“My ultimate aim for the future is to make my passion my profession and be able to do professional acting long term, and they have helped me achieve this big step towards that.”

Ponteland Repertory Society committee member Lesley Eltringham said: “We are absolutely delighted for Leo. He was fantastic as Toad and we are so pleased for him.

“He’s very special and a huge talent. He’s been with us a few years now and we’ve really brought him on.

“While it’s sad to see him go, we’re over the moon for him and know he is going to do very well in the future.”