ONE of the Tyne Valley's most popular theatre groups is celebrating after it won a prestigious award for the second year in a row.

Dragon Tale Theatre Group, based in Prudhoe, won the Best Pantomime award at the NODA North Virtual Awards on Friday.

The award, for their production of Rapunzel last year, was the second consecutive victory for Dragon Tales after they won the same award for their 2018 production for Jack and the Beanstalk.

A Facebook post on the group's website read: "This is an award for every single one of our members both on and off stage as each individual contributed to making the show, ‘award winning'.

"We’re now even more excited for 2021 and for staging Oliver the musical, which promises to be just as award winning."

Before presenting the award, NODA North announced: "This company always presents a huge pantomime in a very modest venue with considerable style providing a colourful and engaging entertainment which does seem to involve every child in the area!"

Dragon Tale Theatre Group was formed in 2000, and ever since has worked with actors of all ages from the Prudhoe area to produce an annual Pantomime.

The first panto – Old Crocks, Frocks, and One Smoking Dragon – was an original work written by Jennifer McGee, but since 2004 they’ve stuck to traditional pantomimes such as Snow White, Dick Whittington and, most recently, Rapunzel.

The theatre group is run as a charity, and has provided opportunities for both young people and adults to explore music, dance, and drama.

As a group, it seeks to promote an improvement in self-confidence, self esteem and social interaction by placing equal value on the skills and contributions each member brings.

It’s not just actors that benefit – members of the group are involved in every part of productions, including sound and lighting, props, fund-raising, and ticket sales.

Their success is even more remarkable when you consider that they perform not on a professional stage, but in a middle school gym. The group moved to Highfield Middle School following the demolition of the old Prudhoe High School building.

As well as the annual pantomime, singers and dancers from the group often perform at some of the biggest events in Prudhoe’s calendar – most prominently appearing in the parade at the annual Prudhoe Town Fair.

Of course, the group's activities have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This year, they were due to perform Oliver - but that has been pushed back until 2021.