Monmouth was well represented at this year's annual National Operatic and Dramatic Association's Dinner and Awards Ceremony when five members of Mayhem Youth Theatre Group attended this prestigious event in the International Convention Centre in the Celtic Manor recently.

Laurence Regan, Anya Duberley, Harry Thomas, Amelia Bartlett-Smith all pupils at Monmouth Comprehensive and Megan Adams, a pupil at Haberdashers Monmouth School were all nominated in Region 3 of Noda Wales and Ireland , a region that includes societies in Abergavenny and Monmouth, for performances throughout 2024. Mayhem who were nominated for ten awards including being nominated for the first time in the adult best performance category had a successful evening picking up two out of the three youth awards available.

Mayhem won its fourth Best Youth Production in seven years for its production of Six the Musical which took place to great reviews in the glorious setting of St Mary's Church last July and Megan won Best Performance in a Supporting Role for her performance as Nancy in Mayhem's Junior Group's production of Oliver in February 2024. These awards were presented to Megan and Anya who was part of the Six cast by Noda's Reprentative Dee McIlroy at the Awards Ceremony.

Andrew Griffiths who founded and runs Mayhem Youth Theatre and attended the Ceremony with the nominees and their parents was delighted with the outcome of the awards. " It was a wonderful evening. We're all about giving opportunities to our members so to attend a National Awards ceremony in such an iconic venue in front of such a big crowd will have created memories that will last a lifetime. To win two awards was just the icing on the cake.

“Six the Musical nearly didn't happen .. With such a small cast and not knowing whether it would be popular or not , it was a huge risk but in the end I couldn't resist it. I was so pleased the town responded to it .

“The young teenage cast fully deserves this award as they very much took responsibility for the shows giving up hours of their time to perfect the music , choreograph the show and create a stunning performance.

“We're also absolutely delighted for the highly talented Megan. Megan is the epitome of everything that we stand for in Mayhem. Children from different schools working together to create first class theatre whilst making friends. Mention must be made of the other nominees who weren't successful on this occasion. Your time will come. I do know they had an unforgettable time "

Nominees included Laurence Regan who was nominated in the Best Youth Performance category as Fagin in Oliver. Anya Duberley who was nominated in the Best Youth Performance category as Ariel in Footloose.

Harry Thomas who was nominated in the Best Youth Performance category as Oliver in Oliver and Amelia Bartlett-Smith who was nominated in the Best Supporting Performance category as Mrs Sowerberry in Oliver .

Nominations for Best Youth Production included for Oliver and Footloose.

Mayhem Youth Theatre Group's next senior show which will be the full version of Grease with the movie songs included from the 23rd to 25th October in the St Catherine's Theatre ( Formerly the Girls School Hall. ) Mayhem would like to thank Monmouth Rotary Club's sponsorship of this show .