A comedy clinches the double for the Athelstan Players at this year's Swindon theatre awards.

The theatre company, based in Malmesbury, has won The Harold Jolliffe One Act Play Festival for the second year running, performing the first act of the Tony Layton play Honeymoon Suite.

Bob Charman starred as the ageing rock star Jet Rush, Natasha Gray as his assistant and Nicola Pearce Smith as avid fan.

The Athelstan Players walked away with an armful of awards. As well as the Becky Peck rose bowl for Winning Play, the actors scooped Best Director, Best Actress and audience favourite.

Runners up this year were newcomers to the Swindon festival, the Young Marlborough Actors, who gave their imaginative interpretation of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Judge Sue Doherty said: "This play was pulled off with just eight cast members. I've seen it done previously with up to 40. They must be exhausted! It was extremely clever and imaginative.''

Silverware for the young actors includes the Charles Grace Cup for Runners Up, the Brenda Lilley Loving Cup for Best Youth Group and Rosie Walker won Best Performance by a junior actor.

This year's Swindon Advertiser Cup for an Original Production went to The Bishopstone Players for their performance of Peter Yates' drama Long Time Coming.

The annual festival was held at the Swindon Arts Centre, Devizes Road, Old Town ending with a grand finale and awards presentation on Saturday, April 11.

The Athelstan Players and the Marlborough Young Actors now go through to the next regional round of the All England Theatre Festival at the Memorial Hall in Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday, April 25. They are also eligible for entry in the National Drama Festival Association's All Winners Festival.

Fenella Harrop, festival director, said: "We're very happy that hj1act is attracting new companies to perform. To see Friendly Theatre and Marlborough Young Actors making their first forays into hj1act, with such impressive results, is very rewarding. Also, it’s hugely encouraging to see the fantastic energy and creativity we have in Swindon and hj1act is proud to be able to showcase such great local talent.”

Last year the Athelstan Players won with the gripping drama Isolation at Eyam by Joyce Dennys.

The one act play festival is hosted by the Swindon and District Theatre Guild and is name after Swindon's post war librarian Harold Jolliffe. - Flicky Harrison

RESULTS, INCLUDING NOMINATIONS

The BBC Wiltshire Audience Award: Athelstan Players for 'The Honeymoon Suite' by Tony Layton The June Thompson Memorial Cup for Dramatic Endeavour New College for 'Under the Bridge' by its cast.

Nominations: RWB Productions for Moonwillow by Amanda Jayne Davey, adapted by Paula Clifford.

Friendly Theatre for The Virtuous Burglar by Dario Fo.

The Matthew Herring Award for Originality or Achievement in Technical Theatre RWB Productions for Moonwillow by Amanda Jayne Davey, adapted by Paula Clifford.

Nominations: New College for 'Under the Bridge' by its cast.

The Swindon Advertiser Award for an Original Production Bishopstoke Players for 'Long Time Coming' by Peter Yates

Nominations: RWB Productions for Moonwillow by Amanda Jayne Davey, adapted by Paula Clifford.

New College for 'Under the Bridge' by its cast.

The Beryldene Hunt Cup for Best Performance by a Junior Actor Rose Walker as Hermia and Snout in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' by William Shakespeare, performed by Marlborough Young Actors.

Nominations: Kai Price-Goodfellow as Lysander and Titania in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' by William Shakespeare, performed by Marlborough Young Actors.

David Howard as Pizza Delivery Boy / Ensemble in 'Under the Bridge' by its cast, performed by New College Stage Company.

Bethany Rawsthorn as Hopeful Jobseeker / Ensemble in 'Under the Bridge' by its cast, performed by New College Stage Company.

The Brenda Lilley Loving Cup for Best Performance by a Youth Group Marlborough Young Actors for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' by William Shakespeare.

The Cheshire Trophy for Best Adult Actress in a Supporting Role Samantha France as the Burglar's Wife in 'The Virtuous Burglar' by Dario Fo, performed by Friendly Theatre.

Nominations: Harriet Leitch as Hippolyta, Bottom and Puck in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' by William Shakespeare, performed by Marlborough Young Actors.

Nicola Pearce-Smith as Frances in for 'The Honeymoon Suite' by Tony Layton, performed by The Athelstan Players.

The Lester Trophy for Best Adult Actor in a Supporting Role Kevin Bowers as Reeth in 'Long Time Coming' by Peter Yates, performed by the Bishopstoke Players.

Nominations: Ed France as Antonio in 'The Virtuous Burglar' by Dario Fo, performed by Friendly Theatre.

The Audrey Suter Trophy for Best Adult Performance by an Actress Natasha Gray as Pat in 'The Honeymoon Suite' by Tony Layton, performed by the Athelstan Players.

Nominations: Viv Martin as Margaret in 'Last Tango in Little Grimley' by David Tristram, performed by the Lechlade Players.

Bridget Walker as Anna in 'The Virtuous Burglar' by Dario Fo, performed by Friendly Theatre.

Emma Joy as Iona in 'Long Time Coming' by Peter Yates, performed by the Bishopstoke Players.

The Audrey Suter Trophy for Best Adult Performance by an Actor Martin Rawlinson as Bernard in 'Last Tango in Little Grimley' by David Tristram, performed by the Lechlade Players.

Nominations: Vernon Dunkley as The Burglar in 'The Virtuous Burglar' by Dario Fo, performed by Friendly Theatre.

Bob Charman as Jet Rush in 'The Honeymoon Suite' by Tony Layton, performed by the Athelstan Players.

Drew Craddock as Tom in 'Long Time Coming' by Peter Yates, performed by the Bishopstoke Players.

The Peter English Award for Best Direction Jackie Morris for 'The Honeymoon Suite' by Tony Layton, performed by the Athelstan Players.

Nominations: Anna Friend for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' by William Shakespeare, performed by Marlborough Young Actors.

Peter Yates for 'Long Time Coming' by Peter Yates, performed by the Bishopstoke Players.

The Charles Grace Cup for Runners Up Marlborough Young Actors for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' by William Shakespeare.

The Betty Peck Rosebowl for the Winning Play The Athelstan Players for 'The Honeymoon Suite' by Tony Layton,