Blyth’s Phoenix Theatre has been received one of the most prestigious awards that can be presented to a community organisation. The theatre, currently celebrating its 50th anniversary year, has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The award is the highest privilege given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their communities. The award was created thirteen years ago to celebrate the anniversary of the Queen's coronation.
The theatre’s programme successfully combines both amateur and professional performances and attracts audiences from a broad area including North Tyneside and rural Northumberland and has successfully brought amateur and professional practitioners alongside each other to develop work for the community.
David Garrett, Executive Director, said, “to say that this is a great honour is an understatement, as for us to be awarded with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is as special as it gets.
“We would like to dedicate this award to all of the wonderful volunteers who have given their free time down the years that has helped to craft The Phoenix into the great community cultural cornerstone that it is today.”