At the recent 2023 Glammies Award Ceremony, organised the Glamorgan Drama League, two Penarth community drama groups won a host of awards.

Penarth Operatic & Dramatic Society (PODS) won several awards in the musicals category for its production of The Full Monty which was performed at the Paget Rooms last year.

Longstanding PODS member, Paul Mellin received the award for the Best Male Performance and two of PODS junior members, Austin Beasley and Flynn Jones shared the award for the Best Male Performance in the in the under 14s category.

The show's director, Fiona Porter Smith received the Best Director award and The Full Monty was declared the Best Overall Musical Production of the year.

"This is the most amazing achievement" said PODS Chairman, Mary Gardner.

"The entire cast, crew and production team worked so hard on The Full Monty and I am so proud of everyone. PODS has been providing first class entertainment to the local community for almost 100 years and it is truly rewarding to have our efforts recognised in this way."

Red Herring Theatre also won a clutch of awards for its production of Clue on Stage which was performed at Penarth Pier Pavilion last year.

Tom Dyer took the award for Best Supporting Male Performance in a Play, Alex Wilson was awarded Best Director of a Play and Clue on Stage received the award for Best Overall Play of the year.

Penarth is home to a wealth of first-class community theatre productions. PODS, having just completed a sell-out run of its production of the musical Chess, which received rave reviews from audiences and critics alike, has a full programme for the rest of the year leading up to its Centenary in 2024.

On Saturday, 1 July, its brand new youth section, PODyS, will stage its first show – PODyS Mini Musicals – at Dinas Powys Parsh Hall. Rehearsals are also underway for the comedy Ladies' Day by Amanda Whittington which will be on at the Paget Rooms in October and this will be followed by PODS annual pantomime, Puss in Boots – Oh yes it will!

Tickets for all PODS shows can be booked at www.ticketsource.co.uk/pods