SIX drama groups from across the Midlands will come to Evesham Arts Centre vying for a place in the finals of the 1-Act Play Competition 2015.

The England central area semi-finals will take place on Saturday, May 9 with the drama groups hoping to impress audiences and judges with the quality of their productions.

Each very different piece has already won through earlier stages of the competition - at theatres from Hereford to Nottingham - and will be vying for a place at the All-England final in Harrogate.

The six productions will be:

• The Teacher? by Michael Pickston, performed by Birmingham-based Tomorrow Productions.

An original play in which a prisoner is forced by his captors to consider his faith,

The Teacher is performed by an company dedicated entirely to the production of new work.

• Melody by Dublin playwright Deirdre Kinahan, performed by the Hereford Players.

A funny and heartwarming piece about two middle age people who meet at lunchtime and end up sharing more than just sandwiches.

The Hereford Players, now based at the city's Courtyard Theatre, have been producing plays since 1945.

• May we?…Oui mais… by Wilf Hashimi, performed by Broseley ADS.

This original play - written by a practicing psychotherapist - looks at the absurdities of rituals in relationships. It is performed by a very active Shropshire drama group.

• The Tale of Tilly Miller by Peter Machen, performed by Total Arts Community Theatre of Tamworth.

A bawdy, Dickensian tale of Tilly Miller's life from conception to death. TACT have a reputation for staging highly professional work.

• Just a Straight Man by Rob Smith and John Mawson, performed by Nuneaton's Abbey Players.

Trevor and Barney are a hugely successful comedy double act - but they don't really get on. What could go wrong?

• Top Girls by the celebrated playwright Caryl Churchill, staged by Nottingham's West Bridgford Dramatic Society.

Self-made, career-driven Marlene is a 1980's success story - but has she really changed anything?

This is the first act of a work first seen at London's Royal Court theatre.

Each piece lasts between 40 and 50 minutes and all the companies have seen off stiff competition in two previous rounds.

The six plays will be staged in two sessions starting at 2pm and 7pm.

Tickets for each session of three plays are £10, with a ticket to both sessions costing £15, available from Evesham Almonry, by calling 01386 446944 and EveshamArtsCentre.co.uk.