AMATEUR thespians from across Hampshire and beyond will descend on Totton later this month for a celebrated festival of drama.

Totton Festival of Drama acts as the first stage of the National All England One Act Drama Festival Competition.

Winners of the event, at Hanger Farm from Tuesday March 24 to Saturday March 28, will have the chance to represent England at the British Final in July.

The festival, now in its 42nd year, has long been promoting the wealth of talent in local theatre.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for audiences to see such a variety of diverse theatre”, said Mike Farleigh, Festival Chair. “With up to three one act plays each evening audiences are guaranteed an excellent nights entertainment. Groups and audiences are also treated to the professional critic each evening by Mike Tilbury from the Guild of Drama Adjudicators.”

Bench Theatre will get the event under way on Tuesday March 24 with Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Paul King, which is followed by One Million to Stop the Traffik by Mark Wheeller, performed by Starcast Drama Company.

Wednesday March 25 sees Connie's Colander by Gaye Poole performed by Chameleon Theatre Company, alongside Bench Theatre's Keywords by Dan Finch and Gamma Ray Theatre with Ay-Up Hitler by David McCulloch.

Bishopstoke Players take to the stage on Thursday March 26 with For The Taking by Peter Yates, alongside Man on the Floor by Neil Simon , performed by SUP Theatre Company and Bench Theatre's Bear Hunt by Lucy Flannery.

Testbourne Youth Theatre present Silent Voices by Johnny Carrington on Friday March 27 while SUP Theatre bring Settling Accounts by Neil Simon to the stage.

On the final night, on Saturday March 28, The Diva Academy will perform Memories Lost, which was devised by the cast and will be followed by Light UP with Burying your Brother in the Pavement by Jack Thorne.

Every evening audiences can expect a fantastic and varied line up as one of the best one act drama festival in the South returns.

Performances begin at 7pm.

To book, call 023 8066 7683 or visit hangerfarm.co.uk