A KEIGHLEY Playhouse actress took to the red carpet to receive a prestigious award for a stage portrayal.

Sandra Chewins received the Best Supporting Actress award at the Wharfedale Festival of Theatre for her performance in Little Women.

The accolade saw the Playhouse take one of the many awards on offer during what is one of Yorkshire’s biggest amateur award events.

The auditorium at Leeds West Academy was packed with performers, backstage volunteers and officials from a host of amateur theatre groups.

Keighley Playhouse had entered its well-received 2016 production of the American classic Little Women.

Sandra said: “Congratulations to all the winners, recipients of the Special Festival Awards and to all those who were nominated in various categories in musicals, pantomimes and dramas from across Yorkshire.

“I was absolutely thrilled just to have been nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Little Women, but to actually come away from a celebratory evening congratulated and recognised by my peers was indeed a fantastic surprise.”

Sandra said that winning the award justified the professionalism of Keighley Playhouse and its dedication to providing top-quality entertainment in the local community.

Keighley Playhouse chairman Debbie Ellison said: “We were delighted to have had record box office receipts for the 2016/17 season and in addition, bringing home a much-sought-after and coveted award from the Wharfedale Festival of Theatre Awards evening.”

The Wharfedale Festival of Theatre had been recognising performances on the amateur stage since its inception around the early-1960s.