Abbots Langley may be a small village, but one of its amateur dramatic societies has just won praise in a competition involving groups from as far away as Cape Town and New York, writes Helen Williams.

The Abbots Langley Gilbert and Sullivan Society (ALGSS) was nominated for best concerted item and Emma Southorn won the award of best supporting actress at the year's Buxton International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, in August.

The nomination and the award recognised outstanding performances in The Yeomen of the Guard, staged at Watford Palace Theatre, in which Emma played the part of Phoebe Meryll.

A song performed at the end of the play by a trio of women including Emma Southorn, her mother Brenda Southorn and Eve Rapley won the society the best concerted item nomination.

The adjudicators were impressed with how beautifully the piece was performed.

Emma fought off fierce competition to win the title of best supporting actress and is both surprised and proud to have won it, while playing a part she has always wanted.

She believes it is the best role in the play and loves to play the comic.

She said: "Playing Phoebe is lots of fun she's silly, I don't think she's got much of a brain, and the part is so well written.

"It was also great being able to play opposite Andrew Taylor, who took on the character Wilfred Shadbolt, the other funny character. We're good friends and we had a lot of fun playing against each other."

As well as her love of the character and an obvious chemistry between herself and other members in the society, the accolade Emma has received for her performance as Phoebe can also be attributed to her background and a talent that has been nurtured since she was born. Her whole family are performers and Emma joined a dance school when she was just three years old.

Now 29, she has a wealth of acting experience behind her including 16 years experience at ALGSS, school performances, work for other amateur societies, a year at Mount View drama school and an upcoming appearance in a semi-professional performance of Snoopy the Musical.

Winning the award has not only been a major boost to Emma's confidence and the ALGSS, but it has also triggered exciting work opportunities for her.

She has been offered the opportunity to play the part of Phoebe Meryll at another festival in Waterford, Ireland, where she will enjoy an all expenses paid trip.

She has also been offered a part in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, which will be performed at a Theatre in Islington, London, as part of The Fringe. Emma sees this as a massive step up and a boost to her ambition to become a professional.

In the meantime, she insists her heart remains with the ALGSS, which she claims is a unique society where everyone feels welcome and has "a good standard without being pretentious."

Emma joined the society when she was 13 years old, and the first show she she was involved in was Pirates of Penzance the same production the society will stage at Watford Palace Theatre, in January. Emma does not, however, yet know whether she will be taking part or not.

"I haven't had a moment to breathe since winning the award," she said.