THE Octagon's smash hit of the summer has driven off with a top award.

Summer Holiday was named as the Best Production at the Northern Soul Award 2018.

The award ceremony celebrates and recognises cultural and entrepreneurial excellence in the North of England ­— from theatres to restaurants.

Award categories included Exhibition of the Year, Gallery of the Year, Small Business of the Year as well as Theatre Production of the Year.

The Northern Soul Awards was held at Manchester Cathedral and former artistic director Elizabeth Newman and associate director Ben Occhipinti accepted the award for the production which took audiences on a bus ride from the new interchange to the Octagon theatre.

Elizabeth, who co-directed the production with Ben, said: "I am so proud that Summer Holiday was nominated and won Best Production at the Northern Soul Awards 2018.

"I am very grateful to everyone who helped us ­— Bolton Council, Vision Buses, Transport for Greater Manchester, the cast, creatives, Octagon theatre staff and the audiences that came along with us.

"We worked with so many brilliant people and organisations who helped us realise our vision. Everyone involved was an essential part of creating something really magical for the people of Bolton."

Ben added:"Working on Summer Holiday was just brilliant. From when we imagined that we might take our audiences on a musical bus journey all the way to seeing the look on the faces of passers-by in the bus station ­— it was truly a unique experience for everyone.

To work with people that had such talent and ambition was a privilege and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to make this production for the people of Bolton."

The evening was hosted by BBC presenter Lucy McNamara and there were performances from poets Cathy Crabb and Wendy Pratt along with music from The Animato Trio.