FUSION Young Performers have scooped several awards for their production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats that was performed at the Regal Theatre in Minehead last year.

The Minehead-based performing arts group was showered with awards and nominations in the David Beach Competition, and founders Lorraine Ahern and Sarah-Jane Cross were honoured in the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) South West awards.

In the David Beach Competition, which is part of the Somerset Fellowship of Drama, Nicky Rush won ‘best youth cameo’ for his performance as Mr Mistoffelees, and Alfie Yates and Lennie Stanford both won best male performer aged 14 to 16 for their performances as Growltiger and Skimbleshanks.

David Pitts received the major award for best musical director at the awards ceremony at Taunton Cricket Club March 10.

Other nominations were for best youth chorus, best youth production, Felix Harkness Jones for her performance as Grizabella and Lorraine Ahern for best direction.

At the NODA ceremony in Plymouth on March 17, Lorraine and co-founder Sarah-Jane were presented with the Youth Advisor’s Award.

NODA youth advisor Jo Wilson-Hunt said that she presented Fusion Young Performers with the Youth Award “as they carry the ethos of supporting, nurturing and training their young people to a great standard. In Cats each character was truly a cat – in every way they were amazing.”