The Young Harts Writing Festival will return to The Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith .

Young writers will compete against professional writers for the title of audience favourite on Friday and Saturday (April 7-8).

However, there is a twist- the audience won't know the author of each play when they cast their vote.

The play with the most votes, wins.

A spokesman said: "Following the success of the festival last April, this year promises to deliver equally original and compelling drama.

"As before, the audience will be kept guessing as to whether the writer was a professional or a young writer.

The Young Harts Writing Festival will take place at The Lyric Hammersmith

"The writers and the winner for each night will be revealed at the end of the evening once the audience votes are counted.

"There are sure to be several surprises."

Professional actors will perform five 10-minute plays, each under the theme "Secrets".

The young writers, aged between 10 and 25, were picked through a competition.

The line up of professional writers this year are: Charlotte Josephine, Eve Leigh, Gbolahan Obisesan, Martin Murphy and Sabrina Mahfouz.

The actors will be a combination of both professional actors and young talent, keeping with the concept of creating an inclusive environment to nurture new talent.

The cast will include actors Lashana Lynch (Lead in ABC’s upcoming ‘Still Star Crossed’) and Kerry Bennett (Casualty, Hollyoaks, The Habit of Beauty, 2016).

Fact box

Dates: Friday 7 & Saturday 8 April 2017

Time: 8pm

Tickets: £10 / £5 Concessions

Venue: Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King Street, London, W6 0QL

Booking: www.lyric.co.uk

Box Office: 020 8741 6850