AN OPERATIC society has been nominated for its production in a district award.

The nominations came through for the Walney Junior Amateur Operatic Society production of Peter Pan The Musical for National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) North West District 11.

NODA North West District 11 covers North Lancashire and South Cumbria areas, including Lancaster, Garstang, Barrow, South Lakeland, Lunesdale and Ulverston.

These awards celebrate the achievements of groups and individuals for productions from the previous 12 months.

Director Mark Johnson said they are 'over the moon' with their twelve nominations, including Best Male Comedy, Best Female Comedy, Best Director, Best Staging and Best Youth Musical.

Mr Johnson said: "We are all absolutely thrilled. All the people on the production team and the committee are all absolutely made up with it purely because we had under 60 children in the cast.

"We have been rehearsing from March time up until October, and there is a lot of hard work that goes into any show in any of the amateur dramatics, so to get recognition from it was just absolutely phenomenal."

He explained that this was 'special' to him as it was his first official production as the director for Walney Juniors. 

Mr Johnson himself joined the society at the age of 13, which kickstarted his love of the theatre.

"It is a big job - especially behind the scenes," said Mr Johsnon. 

"But for what the children actually produced on stage was absolutely phenomenal. We are all so proud of what they actually achieved." 

Commenting on their achievements, Facebook followers of Walney Juniors have celebrated their nominations.

A follower said: "So incredibly proud of every one of those kids. Absolute superstars the lot of them. And all the adults too, such a fantastic achievement."

Another said: "They were all fantastic. So much hard work out in by all. We are all so proud."