A NEW play by Vic Mills about the absurdities of office politics in the modern workplace scooped first prize at this popular drama festival on Saturday night.

Suspension of Disbelief, directed by Neil Maidman, was a short but very funny farce about a Human Resources department desperately trying to sort out a very complicated grievance claim.

The play starred Helen Williamson, as sharp-tongued manager Mrs Bright constantly correcting everyone's grammar, and Gwen Livingstone as Katy Wood, whose many grievances against the company were muted by the fact she had been caught on holiday while off sick. 

It was a very slick and fast-moving production with solid performances by all the cast and very funny as it satirizes and exaggerates the type of situation that many working in a modern office will be familiar with!

The play was competing against the much-performed Last Tango in Blackwood by David Tristram - also directed by Neil Maidman - which had previously won the festival for Blackwood Little Theatre in 2008.

This tells the story of an amateur dramatic group, with not an ounce of talent between them, who are desperate for audiences and come up with an unusual ploy to attract more people to their theatre!

Peta Maidman, Huw Rosser and Trevor Howlett all give excellent performances as the small group of budding thespians who do their pitiful best to put on a successful play, while Rose Shepherd really excels as the shy Joyce, with her wonderful array of worried expressions and attempts to act! 

It was a laugh a minute for the audience who seemed to really relish and enjoy both the very different productions - and it was very interesting to hear adjudicator.

Chris Baglin's comments on them - his decision must have been a very difficult one.

*The Wales final of the one-act play festival will be held at Colwyn Bay in June and the British final will be at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, in July.