A DRAMA group was praised for its work on a popular production of The 39 Steps.

Maldon Drama Group were winners for Best Technical Production and runners up for Best Drama at the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) awards night.

The award dinner held in Stevenage was attended by the group’s representatives including director Helen Rasmussen, secretary Linda Adair and actor Carey Brown.

The production last year garnered much attention, have received ten nominations in the North Essex Theatre Guild Annual Awards last September

Carey said: “We had huge fun putting in the 39 Steps, a crazy, off the wall, comedy spoof of the original which was written by John Buchan and made into a film in 1935 directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

“Our version used a Samuel French script adapted by Patrick Barlow, a version which has been played in London’s West End, some audience members had seen both versions and very kindly told us ours was just as good as the professional one.”

NODA is the national body that represents amateur theatre and was founded in 1899.

NODA spokesperson Christine Davidson praised the group’s rendition of the classic tale, calling it one of their best.

She said: “Director Helen Rasmussen must be congratulated for the huge amount of work and choreography that came with this show.

“How she must have worked out the vast amount of scene changes and mad goings on, just showed how much she enjoyed working on this production.

“Huge congratulations to all the cast and crew for this very funny, bonkers, excellent production.

“The audience loved it and so did we.”