A PRODUCTION of a North Yorkshire playwright’s bittersweet love story has won a number of awards at local drama festivals for a Northallerton-based drama group.

The Allerton Players’ production of These Are The Days by Shari Gledhill won best production at the recent Richmond One-Act Drama Festival held at the Georgian Theatre Royal. In addition, it scooped the best actor award for Paul Staines and the award for best set. The group also performed the play at Saltburn Drama Festival in March, where Deborah Hugill won the best actress award.

Katie Bowie, who directed the play, said: "We’ve really enjoyed performing Shari’s lovely play, set in Scarborough, and it’s very satisfying that all our hard work has been rewarded. It is all the more pleasing as this is our 80th anniversary year."

The Allerton Players were formed in 1942 and have performed in and around Northallerton ever since. Their next production will be in November at the Forum, Northallerton.