The University’s New Theatre has won critical acclaim after dominating proceedings at the National Student Drama Festival (NSDF) 2011 in Scarborough.

Around 40 members of the Students’ Union society put on four of the 13 productions to feature: Orphans, This Wide Night, After the End and Bluebird.

And they returned with a clutch of awards. Gus Miller and Phil Geller (After the End) won Outstanding Production Design, while Douggie McMeekin (Orphans), Megan Salter and Lucy Bromilow (both This Wide Night) picked up three of the four prizes in the Judges’ Awards for Acting category.

Nottingham alumna Elizabeth Bourne, who is now studying at the University of Edinburgh, picked up the Spotlight Award for Most Promising Actress for her role in Amadeus.

New Theatre president Becky Catlin said: “To have even one show selected out of the 13 chosen nationwide is an outstanding achievement and an accolade to the exceptional work currently being carried out at the New Theatre.

“Everyone who gets involved does so out of a real passion for theatre. I am delighted that the National Student Drama Festival gives them such a wonderful opportunity to meet industry professionals and be acknowledged for the wonderful work that they put on.”

The New Theatre was given a £4,000 grant from The University of Nottingham’s Annual Fund to enable them to attend the festival. The fund, which uses donations received principally from alumni, supports projects that directly enhance the student experience, or which add to the University’s student outreach or community activities.

The society will be staging a further three productions before the end of term before taking two shows to the Edinburgh Fringe. To find out more visit www.newtheatre.org.uk/, or see show previews in the Backstage video series at www.youtube.com/nottmuniversity#p/