MILFORD’S Torch Theatre Company has just returned from the world’s largest theatre and arts festival as double Laurel Award winners for its sell-out productions of Grav and Oh Hello! at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The Torch arrived at the prestigious Assembly Hall in Edinburgh on August 7 with its productions about Welsh rugby great Ray Gravell and Carry On Film star Charles Hawtrey. Over the three weeks of the Festival both shows sold out 27 performances, with Oh Hello! putting on an extra date to satisfy demand.

The Company was also invited to perform extracts from both productions at the daily Pick of the Fringe showcase.

Artistic director for the Torch, Peter Doran said: “We went to Edinburgh knowing we were competing with 3,500 other shows each day so we were really hoping that we would get enough of an audience to make it worthwhile.

“We didn’t in our wildest dreams think we would sell out every show. To also receive the Laurel Awards, five star reviews and to be invited to other international festivals is just incredible. One of the directors of the ‘Pick of the Fringe’ summed it up when he said: ‘If you hadn’t heard of the Torch Theatre before, you certainly have now”.

Both productions have received award nominations and international interest from the Perth and Adelaide

Arts Festivals in Australia. Grav has also been invited to next year’s Hong Kong 7s tournament.

Among those to heap praise on the show have been two Scottish rugby greats, Jim Renwick and Scott Hastings, both former Number 13s for their country (the same position as that of Ray Gravell). Comments included a Tweet saying: ‘What a brilliant show we’ve just witnessed! Gareth Bale in Grav was outstanding.'

Also receiving huge praise has been the Torch's marketing officer Jamie Rees, who moved from behind the scenes to take centre stage for Oh Hello!.

His performance as Charles Hawtrey received four and five star reviews from The Daily Mail, The Scotsman and several Fringe review websites. The Sunday Express described his performance as the Carry On Star as ‘incredibly skillful’.

Next up for the Torch Theatre Company are its autumn and Christmas shows.

First up is Noel Coward's Brief Encounter, with rehearsals starting on Monday. Performances run from October 8 to 24 at 7.30pm, with matinees at 2.30pm on October 14, 21 and 24. Tickets cost £16.50 (£14, previews £11, under 26s £8).

The pantomime this year is Jack and The Beanstalk which runs from December 19 to 31.

Tickets cost £17 (concessions £14, family ticket £50).

Doran said the theatre company was constantly raising the bar.

"There’s no doubt that Brief Encounter is our most ambitious yet," he said. "A wonderful love story with wonderful theatrical magic to match.

"We hope the people of Pembrokeshire will come out in force to see their award-winning local professional theatre company in action this season.”