The Talisman Theatre and Arts Centre is "excited to announce" winning the prestigious NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) West Midlands 'Best Drama' award for its production of 'Pride & Prejudice' which premiered at the Kenilworth-based theatre last year. 

The stage adaptation of Jane Austen's timeless classic, penned by acclaimed local writer Andrew Davies, captivated audiences with its "enchanting" narrative.

Andrew's script, coupled with the directorial expertise of Corrina Jacob, brought a fresh perspective to the beloved tale, resonating with theatre enthusiasts and Austen aficionados alike. 

"It's an honour to receive this recognition from NODA," expressed Stephen Duckham, joint artistic director at the Talisman Theatre.

"This award is a testament to the collective passion and dedication of everyone involved in bringing 'Pride and Prejudice' to life on stage."  

NODA is an organisation formed 125 years ago to further the interests and advancement of amateur theatre companies in the UK and each year they hold their Regional Awards for outstanding productions.

Pride & Prejudice was premiered at the Talisman last summer (image supplied)

This is not the first time the Talisman has been awarded a NODA, with regional awards previously attributed to 'Oliver!', 'Rent', 'Blue Remembered Hills' as well as pantomimes 'Humpty Dumpty' and 'Red Riding Hood'. 

Director Corrina Jacob, whose admiration for Jane Austen's work fuelled her commitment to the production, shared her excitement about the award.

"Winning the NODA award is a fabulous achievement for our team. It validates the artistic vision we set out to achieve and celebrates the collaborative spirit that defines our theatre community," she said.

Theatre patron and writer, Andrew Davies, also commented on how delighted he was that his script had been awarded such an accolade: "It was fascinating to watch the production taking shape, and great to work with the director Corrina Jacob and Stephen Duckham on fine-tuning the performances.

"The script will be published in the UK and the United States by Concord, so we can expect many more performances of this stage version - but the World Premiere will always be remembered as having happened at the Talisman." 

Andrew added: "This award-winning production inspired me to put pen to paper again and I'm excited to share that another Jane Austen classic 'Emma' is now well under way.

"The stage adaptation of 'Emma' is set to grace the Talisman's stage in October 2025 to mark the theatre's 83rd anniversary with another World Premiere." 

Davies said he had to be 'prodded' to write the original 1995 script (image via Talisman Theatre)

"We are grateful to NODA for recognising the artistic merit of 'Pride and Prejudice' and celebrating the vibrancy of community theatre.

"And of course to Andrew Davies himself, for his commitment as theatre patron as he shares another World Premiere with us at the Talisman," added Stephen Duckham.  

For more information about what's coming up at the Talisman Theatre including their Cinema and Fringe theatre nights please visit www.talismantheatre.co.uk or contact the box office on 01926 856548. 

The Talisman Theatre sponsors Kenilworth Nub News' What's On section.

Without community-minded partners like them we would not be able to produce dedicated, clickbait-free news to the people of Kenilworth.