THE cast and directors at Blackwood Little Theatre once again swept the board at the annual one-act play festival at the weekend, winning five categories.

The theatre hosts the two-night festival as well, and this year five theatre groups were competing for the awards.

BLT's production Biscuits, by Graham J. Evans, scooped the best adult play title - and also the overall festival award.

This wondeful romp of a comedy, set in 1361, also won Vic Mills the best actor award for his hilarious performance as Gerald - while Gwen Livingston's portrayal of Gwen (c) won her adjudicator Jennifer's Scott-Reid's special award.

And director Neil Maidman took the diretor's award for his imaginative management of the play.

The play took the title by only one point, just in front of Blackwood Little Theatre's other intriguing offering - Godfather Death.

First performed by the company in 2004, this was written and directed by Vic Mills and told the story of Duncan, whose mistguided father appointed Death as the godfather of his only son at birth.

This Brechtian-style performance really gripped the audience as it made its way towards it grim, perhaps inevitable, end.

Father's Day, by Theatre Ad Hoc, didn't win awards, but was a gripping production about a pensioner (Rob Jacob) who is burgled by a con man (Chris Powell) who then gets an unusual come-uppance.

Youth groups also competed in the festival and here the Playgoers New Generation scooped the awards..

Their play In the Spirit of Things, by Steven Quantick, won Charlotte Webb best youth performer for her role as Emily, Rhiannon Ballinger got the Peter Musto award for her set, and the play also won best youth production.

It was another really enjoyable weekend for local theatre, showcasing