A PANTOMIME with a highly original script has bagged an amateur drama group an award.

Conwy Civic Hall Amateur Players Society (CHAPS) have won best pantomime in the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) Wales and Ireland District Awards for the period of 2019.

This followed their performance of Humpty Dumpty last November.

The show was written by director Keith Wood's late mother Pearl Hood.

Janet Davies, of CHAPS, said: "We were all thrilled to win the award for our 2019 pantomime 'Humpty Dumpty'.

"Chaps was set up in 1979 originally as a group to produce an annual pantomime and it's always been the highpoint of our year no matter how many other productions we put on.

"The singing, dancing, acting, scenery are all chaotic until the last couple of weeks before the show everything comes together as if by magic. Great enjoyment and fun for us all, so to win an award is icing on the cake.

"Over the years we've had several nominations but this is our first win."

When asked what the future holds for CHAPS at this time, Janet added: "We have a new script at the ready, plenty of willing participants and lots of enthusiasm but as things are at the moment shall we be able to go ahead? Our annual general meeting (AGM) has been put off until September when we'll make our decision.

"Meanwhile some of our members have been busying themselves writing and creating characters for a series of monologues, all at social distancing, of course.

"We'll be putting them all together to make up a small playlet."

Mr Wood's mother died in December 1979.

The script was consigned to a box of family memorabilia for the next 40 years but was dusted off and made its way into the open when Mr Wood joined CHAPS in 2018.

Prior to the pantomime last year, Mr Wood said: "A few adjustments have been made for the new context."

Visit www.chapsconwy.org.uk