A CELEBRATION of the south’s top amateur dramatics groups will take to the stage.

The Totton Festival of Drama will see Hanger Arts Centre filled with an array of shows as groups compete in an acting competition.

The actors will be going head to head for a chance to win a place in the next round of the prestigious All England Theatre Festival.

Groups will each perform a one-act play in the competition with the best making it through to the grand finals.

From Shakespeare to hard-hitting stories from the south, Hampshire audiences will this week be treated to an exciting timetable of performances with up to three plays from 7pm each night.

The festival will launch on Monday with A Love Like This by Peter Yates performed by Bishopstoke Players, Healing with Words by John Hill by Havant’s Bench Theatre Company and Rock Bottom by Nina Warner Hooke performed by Waterside Theatre Company.

On Tuesday Southampton University Players will perform It’s A Bobby’s Job by Les Smith and Oasis Youth Theatre, based at Oasis Academy Lordshill, will put on I Love You Mum by Southampton’s Mark Wheeler which tells the story of 17-year-old Dan Spargo-Mabbs from Croydon who died in 2014 hours after taking MDMA at a party.

Southampton University Players will be back on stage on Wednesday with The Mechanicals, an adaptation of plays by William Shakespeare by Chris Hawley and youth theatre group Yt2 will perform Bull by Mike Bartlett.

Meanwhile, on Thursday Studio Theatre will perform act one of Top Girls by Caryl Churchill, Oasis Youth Theatre will put on I Promise I Won’t Die by Mark Wheeller, an accompanying play to I Love You Mum which tells Dan’s story from his perspective and Southampton University Players will be back once more with Fumed Oak by Noel Coward.

Curtains will then come down on the festival after Yt2 return with Eight by Ella Hickson and Bench Theatre Company walk the boards again with What You Are by Samantha Lierens.

Each evening will be judged by Robert Meadows from the Guild of Drama Adjudicators.

Everyone is welcome and come and watch the shows at the arts centre in Aikman Lane.

Tickets are £8 each evening or £7 for students with discounts for three or more nights. For details or to book call 023 8066 7683.