Actors will be brushing up their Shakespeare, and other dramatic offerings, to impress at this year's Harold Jolliffe One Act Play Festival.

The festival kicks off on Thursday, April 14 and runs until Saturday, April 16, ending in a BAFTA-style awards night at the Swindon Arts Centre in Devizes Road, Old Town.

Judging the plays will be Michael Kaiser, a member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators.

Michael, from Shropshire, set up his own theatre company and directed their winning play in the All England Festival. He is adjudicator for many different drama festivals all over the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Hoping to impress Michael, with an extract from The Tempest by William Shakespeare, are The Lechlade Players, taking on the Bard's supernatural play under the direction of John Williams.

Not satisfied with tackling just one of the classics this year, The Lechlade Players are also entering their version of The Proposal, by Anton Chekhov. This time directed by Andrew Pritchard.

A number of the directors have turned their hands to writing original stage plays for this year's theatrical extravaganza.

Marc Cox's play, Loose Threads, will be performed by the Athenaeum Limelight Players, while the Pewsey Vale Amateur Dramatic Society will take up the challenge of The Laundry Room, written and directed by Nettie Brown.

Derek Clifford, a veteran of the festival, has also put pen to paper with his work, So What Would You Do? which will be performed by the Royal Wootton Bassett Productions.

Other theatre companies competing this year are the Jackrill Theatre Company with their version of (Ab)solution, directed by Stu Jackson, and written by Helen Ackrill, and Quirky Bird Theatre with an extract from Tusk Tusk, written by Polly Stenham and directed by Anna Friend.

Martin Clifton takes the director's chair with Watching The Magpies, performed by the Pewsey Vale Amateur Dramatic Society and written by Les Clarke.

Festival director Fenella Harrop said: "It is hugely encouraging to see the fantastic energy and creativity we have in Swindon and we are proud to be able to showcase such great local talent.''

For the last two years the winners for Best Play, scooping the Becky Peck Rose Bowl, has been The Athelstan Players from Malmesbury.

The Bishopstone Players scooped the Swindon Advertiser Cup for original production in 2015.

For tickets at £11 and concessions £9 call 01793 524481. - Flicky Harrison