Newtown Musical Theatre Company’s Shrek the Musical hit the right notes after winning six awards at the National Operatic and Dramatic Association’s annual awards.

The amateur theatre company said it was “extremely proud” to win at a glittering awards evening earlier this month for their smash hit November 2022 musical which was their first since before the Covid pandemic.

The show was based on the popular film about a grumpy ogre, his friend, a talking donkey, who go on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona and deliver her to the evil Lord Farquaad.

The performance scooped a District Award for Outstanding Stage Management/Technical and four individual outstanding performance awards for Gareth McMurdo, Rob Jones, Jodie Breakwell and Ethan Andrews-Hardiman, who won the Youth Award, for their roles as Shrek, Donkey, Princess Fiona and Lord Farquaad respectively.

County Times: Ethan Andrews-Hardiman (Lord Farquaad), Rob Jones (Donkey), Jodie Breakwell (Princess Fiona) and Gareth McMurdo (Shrek) in Newtown Musical Theatre Company's Shrek the Musical in November 2022.Ethan Andrews-Hardiman (Lord Farquaad), Rob Jones (Donkey), Jodie Breakwell (Princess Fiona) and Gareth McMurdo (Shrek) in Newtown Musical Theatre Company's Shrek the Musical in November 2022. (Image: Newtown Musical Theatre Company)

County Times: Outstanding Individual Performances awards for Newtown Musical Theatre Company's Gareth McMurdo (Shrek), Rob Jones (Donkey) and Jodie Breakwell (Princess Fiona) and a Youth Award for Ethan Andrews-Hardiman (Lord Farquaad).Outstanding Individual Performances awards for Newtown Musical Theatre Company's Gareth McMurdo (Shrek), Rob Jones (Donkey) and Jodie Breakwell (Princess Fiona) and a Youth Award for Ethan Andrews-Hardiman (Lord Farquaad). (Image: Newtown Musical Theatre Company)

A Newtown Musical Theatre Company spokesperson said: “We didn't think we could be happier and then they announced Newtown Musical Theatre Company as the winners of a Regional Outstanding Production Award, and we were fit to burst.

“To be recognised at a regional level really is incredible. This gives us a real boost ahead of our next production of Made in Dagenham at The Hafren next month.

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“We would like to take the opportunity to thank the local community for their continued support.”

The funny and touching musical is based on the 2010 film Made in Dagenham, which in turn centred around the true-life events of the Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968 who fought for an historic equal pay battle.

County Times: Made in Dagenham will be performed at The Hafren in early October.Made in Dagenham will be performed at The Hafren in early October. (Image: Joe Purches/Ayton West Studio)

 

Almost 200 “Dagenham Girls” walked out of the Ford Motor Company’s Dagenham plant in June 1968 after learning their work was classified as unskilled – leaving their pay 15 per cent below that of their male counterparts.

The strike, which lasted three weeks, put all car production to a halt. During that time, the Dagenham women were joined by 195 women from Ford’s Halewood plant in Merseyside.

Their brave stand resulted in the 1970 Equal Pay Act and the events inspired a film which later turned into a West End musical.

Tickets are now available to watch the musical, which will be performed on Thursday, October 5, Friday, October 6, and Saturday, October 7, by booking online at www.thehafren.co.uk or by phoning the Box Office on 01686 948100.