A SEARCH is being launched to find what could be described as the Oscars of amateur dramatics in Gwent.

For around 40 years, the Gwent Drama League held its annual awards night, where it gave out prizes for the best plays that had been held at the Dolman Theatre, Newport, over the past year.

A glittering array of trophies were given out to best production, best actor, best actress, best supporting actor, best director and best decor, with the winners holding on to these for a year.

But, after many of the committee retired, the trophies were last given out a number of years ago, there is no record of where they ended up.

A Gwent Drama League committee has been reformed recently, with groups such as WAWWA The Musical Youth, Standard Telephones, Young Venture Players, New Venture Players and the Newport Operatic Society keen to get their hands on the silverware.

The only problem is, nobody seems to know where the trophies are.

Treasurer of the newly-formed committee, Linda Urrutia, said: "We want to generate new life into the awards and a lot of groups are interested as it was quite a big deal in the past. But, we haven't been able to find out who had the trophies last or exactly when they were last given out."

The Argus sponsored one of the main trophies and the last Gwent Drama League awards we reported on was in 2009.

Then, Newport Playgoers' Society scooped many of the top prizes, with Ruth Ferguson the best actress, Hugh Whitemore winning five awards and Moira Mainwaring winning the adjudicator's prize.

Best supporting actor and actress trophies were given to Connor Corbett and Zoe Preece for performances in a production of Robin Hood by the Dolman Youth Theatre Group.

If you have any of the trophies, please call Mrs Urrutia on 07904887618.