A group of students have honed their playwriting skills in a bid to win this year's coveted top prize in Swindon's answer to the Olivier awards.

The students from New College have come up with an innovative plot set around the world of the Internet Trolls which they are entering in the Harold Jolliffe One Act Play Festival.

The Swindon Arts centre, Devizes Road, Old Town, is playing host to the festival from Thursday, April 9 to Saturday, April 11 at 7.15pm nightly.

Trolling the internet began with chatting and discourse on the world wide web but gradually it became associated with harassment online.

Matthew Clift, manager of the Phoenix Theatre at New College, said: "Under The Bridge is a play that uncovers the far removed personalities who reach out through cyberspace to cause pain and misfortune to those they deceive. It shows the inner workings of the troll's mind as well as the devastating consequences of their actions.''

The New College students will be competing against RBW Theatre Company, Marlborough Young Actors, The Lechlade Players, New College Stage Company, The Friendly Theatre Company and The Bishopstone Players and last year's winners The Athelstan Players.

The winning players from Malmesbury tackled the gritty drama Isolation At Eyam by Joyce Dennys last year, and this time they take on The Honeymoon Suite (extract) a comedy by Tony Layton.

Festival Director, Fenella Harrop, said: "HJ1act audiences can, once again, rely on seeing plenty of new productions. For lots of reasons, theatre companies are stretching themselves with new writing and at HJ1act we’ve got a lot of new, unpublished plays being performed. ”

The first One Act Play Festival was in 1947 and it is named for the post war librarian in Swindon, Harold Jolliffe, who founded the arts centre in the town. The Swindon festival is a preliminary independent round in the All England Theatre Festival.

The curtain rises tonight (Thurs April 9) on Moonwillow, adapted by Paula Clifford for Royal Wootton Bassett Theatre Company. Throughout the week a bit of the Bard unfolds with A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare. It is portrayed by young actors from Marlborough in their first appearance at the festival. The Lechlade Players present Last Tango in Little Grimley, a comedy by David Tristram, and The Bishopstone Players enact a crime drama by Peter Yates called A Long Time Coming. Athelstan's comedy about a fading pop star, who checks in to the Bridal Suite with his new wife before mayhem ensues, is the curtain call for this year's feast of drama.

“One of the many aspects of HJ1act that I enjoy, is how accessible it makes theatre,” says Fenella. “Theatre's not all posh and expensive. HJ1act offers everyone a fantastic opportunity to watch talented local performers give their all, and for just over a tenner!''

Tickets are £10.50, concessions £8.50 from 01793 524481 or online at www.swindontheatres.co.uk. - Flicky Harrison