Tonight three one act plays go head to head on the first day of a drama festival in Swindon.

The Harold Jolliffe One Act Play Festival, named after a post war town librarian, runs until Saturday at the Arts Centre, Devizes Road, Old Town.

The festival started in 1947 and is hosted by the Swindon and District Theatre Guild. It is a great opportunity for everyone to see live performances on their own doorstep.

Ashley Heath, festival director said: “For anyone wanting a varied night of theatre, HJ’12 is just the ticket.’’ Tonight sees The Athelstan Players perform Strictly For The Birds, Swindon Act present Collection Day and Dead Meat Productions, a new theatre company, tread the boards with Prevenge, a two-hander intended to provoke free thinking in its audience. Later in the week last year’s winners, OTTC, are tackling a modern play called Convenience under the direction of Cal Doughty.

The Clarendon Players chose Interior Designs and Whole Hog Productions, The Final Act Of Henry Gladstone, taken from an Anton Chekov play Swan Song with Matthew Clift directing.

The Phoenix Theatre Company are all actors based at Swindon’s New College who jumped in to the breach when Whole Hog had to withdraw their second play. Phoenix are presenting Capti Gaeth.

E=MC2 are on Hallowed Ground and WADAMS perform their comedy A Dog’s Life. Pewsey Vale Amateur Dramatic Youth Society have A Modern Twist and PVADS adults are All Around My Pole.

Tickets are £10, concessions £7.50 from 01793 614837.