AMATEUR dramatists from across Oxfordshire competed at a festival of one-act plays in Wallingford.

Actors from Wallingford, Didcot, Drayton, Wolvercote and Oxford joined the 71st drama festival at the Corn Exchange on June 12 – 15.

Plays ranging from the surreal to the poignant were watched and judged each night by Jennifer Scott-Reid from the Guild of Drama Adjudicators, and at the end of the weekend she award prizes to the finest.

Oxford Theatre Guild was commended for its play Queers, but this year's overall prize was taken by Didcot's Phoenix Drama Group, pictured right, for their play A Bench on the Edge.

The Didcot group also walked away with this year's punters' prize, reflecting audience appreciation.

The 2018 Harris & Jones Salver for best actor went to Peter Sheward-Himpson of Oxford Theatre Guild while the Susan North Memorial Trophy 'for memorable moment' went to Wallingford's own Sinodun Players for their play Sisterhood.

The drama festival returned to the Corn Exchange this month after a year's break, during which the Victorian building's leaking glass roof was replaced and essential interior refurbishment was carried out.

Festival organiser Sarah Enticknap said theatre lovers had been delighted to welcome the event back to the town institution.

She said: "We had a diverse range of plays and the audiences were very appreciative.

"It's at a festival like this where audiences can see how lucky they are in this area to have such talent in our midst. It's nice to be back as part of the festival circuit again and we at the Corn Exchange are already looking forward to next year's.

She also thanked everyone working behind the scenes at the Corn Exchange for helping to make this year's event a success.