Monmouth Off Centre Theatre triumphed at this year’s hugely popular Hereford County Drama Festival (Market Theatre, Ledbury, Saturday 11 March 2023) with a haunting production of Beside the seaside, beside the sea, an original play written and directed by Jim Newcomb.

A tragic tale of how the death of a child leads to the break-up of an already-foundering marriage, it won the festival’s prestigious Garrick Cup.

Starring performers Joel Daffurn and Becky Townsend scooped the festival’s awards for Best Actor and Best Actress respectively.

A packed theatre saw second place and the Runners Up Cup awarded to Ledbury Amateur Dramatic Society’s production of Kindertransport Act 1 while LADS also scooped the festival’s Wye Cup, with Rambles on Radio in third place.

Says festival chairman, David Newton: “Once again the festival has delivered quality productions to an enthusiastic audience. Everybody involved deserves high praise for their efforts.”