Amateur dramatics is alive and well at the Barnet District Drama Festival. ALEX KASRIEL previews the talent

With a breadth of awards to rival even the Oscars, the 36-year-old Barnet District Drama Festival (BDDF) is centre stage this spring.

The festival opened last week with the Potters Bar Theatre's production of Frank Vickery's Trivial Pursuits at Tilbury Hall in Darkes Lane.

Last year, member Martin King won the award for most promising young player with his performance in The Government Inspector.

Festival chairman John Querfurth, a member of the Brookland Players, revealed a little about the competitors: "Most of the companies are long-running societies; the Good Companions and Incognito Theatre have been going for over 60 years.

"The standard is very high, which is what is good about the competition.

"We don't say that everyone who takes part has to win an award: that purely rests with the adjudicator. If there is one play which is absolutely brilliant, then that will tend to win most of the awards."

Mr Querfurth said that many of the 13 awards are given in memory of people who were involved with the drama companies over the years.

"The adjudicators' award is in memory of Andrew Forney of the Garden Theatre Company, who died a couple of years ago, and the Jenny Gordon award is in memory of the late member of the Brookland Players.

"They tend to be in memory of those who died quite young in life, who we want to remember in some way."

The Radlett Players present Francis Durbridge's Suddenly at Home. Tickets are £7.50 and £8.50 for the production at The Radlett Centre, Watling Street, running from March 20 to 23 and can be booked on 01923 859291.

Perennial am dram favourite Noel Coward is the playwright of choice for the Compton Players when they perform the drawing room comedy Blythe Spirit at Compton Hall, Winchmore Hill URC, Compton Road, Enfield, running from April 11 to 13. For tickets and prices call 020 8360 1104.

Goffs School's entry is The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni on April 18 and 19, at Goffs School, Goffs Lane, in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. For tickets priced at £4 and £3 call 01992 424200.

Last year the school won the adjudicators' award for its performance of Macbeth (just don't mention it in the theatre).

Incognito Theatre Group, which was the 2001 runner-up with David Hare's Racing Demon, presents Arthur Wing Pinero's Trelawney of the Wells, from April 17 to 20, at Incognito Theatre, Holly Park Road (behind the clinic), Friern Barnet. For tickets, which range from £6 to £7.50, call 020 8803 1947.

The Park Players, from Radlett, is entering for the second time. Its play, Daisy Pulls it Off, runs from April 18 to 20 at Park Street, Radlett. For the £5 tickets call 01727 768977.

Last year Good Companions won the Best Set Design and Best Actress awards for its production of the other am dram favourite Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest.

This year it is putting on Hay Fever by Noel Coward from April 25 to 27. Playing at John Keble Hall, Deans Lane, Edgware, tickets are £7 and £6. Call 020 8959 4003 for bookings.

Last year's winner of the best all-round production and most ambitious choice with its production of Death of a Salesman was Garden Suburb Theatre, which this year is performing Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa on April 25 to 27, at the Institute, Central Square, Hampstead Garden Suburb. For the £6 and £4.50 tickets, call 020 7262 5579.

Terry Pratchett's Wyrd Sisters, adapted by Stephen Briggs, is at the BSCA, the Centre, Mays Lane, Barnet, on May 3 and 4, and it is the Company of Players' entry. Tickets are £6 and can be booked on 020 8440 6858.

And the last entry before the awards ceremony on June 8 is the Brookland Players' play. It is yet to be revealed, but die-hard fans can still book the £9 and £8 tickets on 020 8449 0048.