A NEWPORT drama group brought down the curtain on their large-scale historic fashion shows for the last time yesterday evening.

Phoenix Drama Group performed its last production of 100 Years of Fashion at the Queen’s Hotel, Dundee, for Invergowrie Parish Church’s 2009 centenary fund.

Over the years the shows have raised tens of thousands for local charities.

Director and wardrobe mistress Madge Mackenzie first gave presentations on how the clothes in their collection, dating from 1850 to 1950, were made and, even though the drama group folded, the name was kept on for the shows.

Eric and Liz Box started helping over 10 years ago, eventually taking over with member Nessie Smith.

Mr Box said, “We now find that the amount of work involved in putting a show together is just too much for three people to manage and we have, reluctantly, decided to stop doing the big shows.”