Tryst has swept the boards at two English drama festivals in the last fortnight, becoming the first club in the country to win both festivals back-to-back.

Tryst’s new play Art by Yasmina Reza took first place plus three other trophies at the prestigious Felixstowe Drama Festival – for Best Acting, Best Stage Presentation and a special Adjudicator’s Award for one of the cast, Craig Murray.

Then they made it a double cause for celebration when they were awarded first place at the Welwyn Festival plus an award for Director Alan Clark and the Audience Appreciation award.

Tryst Chairman Frank Murray said: “It’s the first time any UK club has won both festivals back to back, so it’s a superb achievement by the cast and crew and a marvellous way to bring our summer season to an end.

“Art is a very popular comedy in which the three actors – Craig Murray, Brian Paterson and Alan Clark - perform somewhere between the elegance of The Three Tenors and the slapstick of The Three Stooges.”

Frank explained that the play is a comedy of crisis. Serge has bought a modern abstract painting for a huge sum of money. Marc is disgusted and cannot believe that a friend of his could possibly want such a ghastly work. Yvan attempts, unsuccessfully, to placate both sides while struggling with the plans for his wedding.

“Everyone at Tryst is thrilled, particularly for Craig who was singled out by adjudicator Tony Rushforth at Felixstowe to receive a special trophy for a huge and difficult speech he has in act one. Mr Rushforth said it was the best monologue he had ever witnessed.”

Alan Clark added: “It was a real team effort on both nights. The cast were brilliantly supported by Jim Allan on lights, David Allan on sound, Carol Allan on continuity, Brian Tripney on props, Jimmy Cairns who took care of stage management, refreshments and transport, and Carol Clark who took care of me.”