Short and Sweet Theatre Sydney is the largest festival of ten minute plays in the world. Now in its 16th year, the festival takes place over a period of three months starting in January each year. Around 160 brand new scripts by Australian and international writers, will be performed during the festival. Spoilt for choice, with nine brand new plays this week:-
1 – T3 Trojan
ITC presented by Bare Bones Theatre Co.
Written and Directed by Judith Duncan
Cast: Karishma Mathur
Very entertaining, dramatic injustice monologue of woman versus machine, with essential content very reminiscent of “Fahrenheit 451” and “Divergent”. The human element has been removed, dystopian justice is now very blind, a computer is your judge jury and executioner, because all justice is badly administered by artificial intelligence, with urgent need for change. Continue reading SHORT+ SWEET 2017 TOP 80 : WEEK TWO @ THE DEPOT THEATRE→
The biggest little play festival in the world. 2017 and this is the sixteenth year of SHORT+SWEET THEATRE SYDNEY, running Wednesdays to Sundays, from 11th January 2017 to 18th March 2017.
In March 2017 the best of the best are returning for the Special Event Shows, and the long awaited 2017 Gala Final performances on 16 17 18 March 2017.
Short and Sweet Festival Director, Wayne Tunks, has selected an excellent first week of thought provoking plays, and very easy to recommend, with nine brand new plays, all well worth experiencing:-
SHORT+SWEET 2017 TOP 80 – WEEK ONE
1 – Heat Visions
Written and Directed by Nick Subjak
Cast: Alice Furze
Superb comedy monologue in one voice, was an absolutely huge audience pleaser. Bright red full-body sunburn hurts, and the simple task of eating a bowl of cereal, collapses into trying to move close enough to try to open the cereal container. Continue reading SHORT+SWEET 2017 TOP 80 : WEEK ONE @ THE DEPOT THEATRE→
This was an excellent week featuring nine entertaining performances.
1. THE BLOOD OF A THOUSAND CHICKENS
This was a re-imagined epic classical Greek historical comedy with even Socrates getting a mention. Historically inaccurate. Oedipus discovers that offering the Gods the blood of a thousands of chickens and goats did not end the drought. What will the next sacrifice be?
Writer: James Hutchison, Director: Glen Pead, Cast: Nathan Bennett (Oedipus), Keira Bird (Jocasta), Sebastian Lopez (Phallus), Warren Paul Glover (Cretin & The Oracle), Nicole Carney (Penurious).
2. EVERYTHING
This was an excellent drama set in an abortion clinic, as a young girl thinks through her very tough decision to end the life of her baby. Her mother arrives, and with her arrival a brand new set of viewpoints come to the fore.
Angela Gibson stars as the Teacher, in a comic monologue, again and again another question is asked, then answered twice. Initially a very very huge lie is told, and then the actual truth is detailed at length. With a unique twist, this delightful comedy, was an audience favourite. ITC: Savage Servants, Writer: Natalie Banach, Director: Cheryl Butler.
4. THE UNEXPECTED
Katie Fairbrother plays Lisa, the Mother and Bridget Durkin is Jeannie, the daughter in THE UNEXPECTED. Both have important news, but their long unresolved mother/daughter issues constantly get in the way in this situation drama, which struck an all too familiar chord with many women in the audience. This poignant comedy drew well deserved applause. Writer: Greg Gould, Director: Adam Grubner.
5. THE GOON
These two goons are never ever supposed to kill the comic book hero. Super heroes comedy ensues as the goons try to cover up the murder. The remaining comic book villain (Mister Baby Chicken) is only supposed to die at the end, in a moment of supreme poignancy. Once you change the reality of the comic book world, what else can go wrong? With perfect cast and direction, this was another audience favourite, with constant laughter. ITC: The Monologue Project, Writer + Director: Pete Malicki, Cast: Mark Longhurst (Gary), Ryan Bown (Blarney), Matt Steel (Main Bad Guy – Mr. Poulette).
6. DOCTORS ORDERS
In this fictional future, two doctors repeatedly try to get their brand new patient to willingly end his life via assisted suicide. The situation was somewhat reminiscent of the 1973 movie, SOYLENT GREEN. In the end, will the doctors decide that this patient is wasting their time and money? The piece was expertly directed, very well cast comedy, was another crowd pleaser. ITC: Blackbox Productions, Writer: Tom Peach, Director: Luke Berman, Cast: Bradley Ward (Dr Smith), Sam Lovell (Dr Armand), Alexander Cuff (Joe Simpson).
7. BABY BLUES
This piece saw Ruth Pieloor (Mother and Baby Puppet) perform delightful comic puppetry. The situation involved a clever but very unhappy baby discussing her very over protective mother whilst being fed, burping, crying and pooping. At length the baby discussed her dissatisfaction with modern-day parenting practises. The piece easily pulled at the heart strings of the audience, and generated laughter and applause. The only criticism was the swearing which added nothing to the performance. ITC: Ruth Pieloor, Writer + Director: Shelly Higgs.
8. BROTHERS IN ARMS
France 1917, the truth finally comes out when two brothers are about to die, just before going ‘over the top’ at the Battle of Passchendaele. The already telegraphed secret is finally delivered near the end, but there is more…Soldiers shirking their duty (cowards) are always immediately killed with friendly fire. ITC + Writer + Director: Warren Paul Glover, Cast: Richard Littlehales (William), Leon Joseph (Humphrey), Daniel Pollock (Tom), Mark Fowler (Charlie).
9. RED EYE TO BANGKOK
Comedy mayhem before the aircraft takes off, so how many phobias can one woman passenger have? There is no escape, from the nightmare departure scenario, that gets funnier by the second. Received well deserved applause from an appreciative audience. ITC: Crash Test Drama Cronulla, Writer + Director: Susan Turner, Cast: Toasty d’Bechamel (Brad), Melissa Myles (Jeanie), Haki Crisden (Omar)
SHORT AND SWEET THEATRE 2016 Top 80 Week Three,is playing at the Depot Theatre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville until Sunday 24 January 2016.
Production photography by Stephen Favaloro, and photos displayed in performance order.
All pics by Stephen Favaloro and in the correct sequence of the ten plays.
The biggest little play festival in the world is back for its fifteenth year, and now also has free car parking. Expect to see up to 160 ten minute plays across the eight weeks, with a Gala Final in March. SHORT+SWEET THEATRE SYDNEY this year, runs Wednesdays to Sundays, from 6 January 2016 to 13 March 2016. This is a very entertaining week, with ten wonderful plays, and very hard to pick the winner this week.
