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Short+Sweet Dubai 2024

The curtains have come down on Short+Sweet Theatre Festival 2024! After 8 weeks of amazing theatre, here are the results from the gala finals tonight

- Best Poster: Jay Nagjee (Bottom Of The Order)
- Spirit of the Festival: Daniyal 
- Sakshi Verkot New Talent Award: Beatrix D'Arcy (Hansel & Gretel), Kiyan Patel (Shilpkaar) & Freda Smith (Art)
- Best Script: Nihal M Sayed (Movie Magic)
- Best Theatre Company: H72 Productions
- Best Regional Play: La Signora Delle Camelie
- Best Director: James Cuningham (Lionheart) & Akansha Goenka (La Mouche Deux)
- Best Actress Runner Up: Francesca Bizzari (La Signora Delle Camelie)
- Best Actress: Eliane Germanos (Fist Full of Dust)
- Best Actor Runner Up: Ahmed Syed (When Birds Fly Away)
- Best Actor: James Cuningham (Lionheart)
- Best Play People's Choice Runner Up: Lionheart
- Best Play People's Choice: La Mouche Deux
- Best Play Runner Up: La Mouche Deux
- Best Play: Lionheart

Congratulations to all winners and participants. See you again in 2025!

Short+Sweet Hollywood Theatre 2025

Welcome everyone to Short+Sweet Hollywood Theatre 2025! We can't wait to see all of your creations at this year's festival!

Please submit either as a Director, Actor, or as an ITC/Group through the drop down links listed below.

 

Submissions are now closed for the Short+Sweet Hollywood 2025 season. Thank you to all those that have submitted

 

If you would like to submit a script to be considered for Short+Sweet Hollywood, as well as our other international Short+Sweet festivals, please follow the instructions through the drop down link listed below.

Tickets, as well as more info about our plays debuting at Short+Sweet Hollywood 2025, coming soon here: https://shortsweethollywood.stagey.net/

Short+Sweet South India Theatre

Short+Sweet South India started as Short+Sweet Chennai in 2011. Since 2014, the festival has opened to entries from all the southern states in India. The jury members for the weeks are not known to the public and consist of a good mix of connoisseurs from diverse fields.

The festival is presented by Prakriti Foundation in association with Blu Lotus Foundation and Alliance Francaise of Madras with SPI EDGE as prize sponsors.

Short+Sweet Theatre South India is a platform for actors, writers, and directors to create high-quality new work in professional theatre for the past decade in Chennai. The collaborative environment provided by the festival where established practitioners pass on knowledge to others in the theatre arts is a key catalyst for the community to come together and celebrate theatre in all of its forms. Singlehandedly, Short+Sweet South India has been a festival all theatre makers look forward to every year in Chennai, owing to its ability to bring Tamil/ Regional and English theatre makers together for interesting collaborations which extends much beyond the festival forging relationships. The festival presents high-quality theatre in the form of new short pieces, developing new audiences for Indian theatre and encouraging people to write for the stage, thus helping to foster new playwrights and artists in India. 

Short+Sweet Sydney Theatre Festival 2024

SHORT+SWEET
THE BIGGEST LITTLE FESTIVAL IN THE WORLD

 

2024 GALA FINALS

Sat 4  May at 7:30pm & Sunday 6 May at 6:30pm | Buy Tickets Now

2024 GALA FINALISTS

ON QUEUE (Week 1)
Written by Morey Norkin / Directed by Kathryn Stewart

THREE SIDES TO EVERY STORY (Week 3)
Written by Sally Bartley / Directed by Dan Maher

KILL YOUR DARLINGS (Week 4)
Written & Directed by Laurent Auclair

MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY (Week 5)
Written & Directed by Freia Kirkaldy

BLIND DATE (Week 6)
Written by Ken Levine / Directed by Hollie Meyer

PRICK (Week 7)
Written by Gina Cohen / Directed by Jeremy Godwin

BRAVE PEOPLE (Week 8)
Written by Allan Staples / Directed by Kai Paynter

And from our Semi-Finals...

AND IN THE END 
WILDCARD Final Winner / Week 3
Written and directed by Frank Leggett 

A THING OF HOPE 
CREWCUT FINALS - JUDGES CHOICE / Week 6
Written by Geraldine Marcellino / directed by Brea Macey

MASK 
CREWCUT FINALS - AUDIENCE CHOICE / Week 4
Written by Adam Szudrich / Directed by Gina Cohen

SEEDS IN YOUR POCKET 
PEOPLES CHOICE FINALS - JUDGES CHOICE / Week 1
Written and directed by Fiona Leonard

SHAKESPEARE WHERE ART THOU 
PEOPLES CHOICE FINALS - AUDIENCE CHOICE / Week 3
Written and directed by 
Paulene Turner

FOUR BEATS TO A BAR 
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR SELECTION / Week 7
Written and directed by 
Lisa Kelaher

MAKING THE WORLD BETTER PLACETEN-MINUTES AT A TIME

Festival enquiries, please contact our Festival Director Luke Berman at luke.berman@shortandsweet.org
 

2024 SEASON DATES
Week 1 | 15 - 18 February
Week 3  |  29 February - 3 March

Week 4  |  7 - 10 March
Week 5  |  14 – 17 March

Week 6  |  28 - 31 March
Week 7
  |   4 – 6 April
Week 8  |  18  – 21 April

 

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FESTIVAL FINALS SERIES
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PEOPLES CHOICE SHOWCASE - SEMI FINAL 
(2 performances)

Saturday 27 April at 7:30pm 
& Sunday 28 April at 6:30pm
 

CREW CUT FINAL -  SEMI FINAL 
(2 performances)

Friday 26 April at 7:30pm 
& Sunday 28 April at 2:00pm
 

WILDCARD FINAL - JUDGES SEMI FINAL 
(2 performances)
Thursday 25 April at 7:30pm 
& Saturday 27 April at 2:00pm

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GALA FINAL   4 - 5 May
Sat 4  May at 7:30pm
& Sunday 6 May at 6:30pm
Buy Tickets Now

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Short+Sweet Illawarra Theatre 2023

MAKING THE WORLD A MORE CREATIVE PLACE - TEN MINUTES AT A TIME

Short+Sweet Illawarra - one of our most respected and successful little festivals - returns for its fifth year under the leadership of experienced Festival Director and Wollongong resident Luke Berman. Short+Sweet Illawarra returns with its Top 20 season of ten-minute theatre, with the best plays as voted by audience and judges advancing to our rejuvinaterd Short+Sweet Sydney Festival in early 2024.
 

The Illawarra is a known theatre heartland, a rare melting pot of performance artists. Short+Sweet seeks to provide an accessbile platform for everyone to share their stories through Theatre, Film and Cabaret and add to the dynamic creative ecosystem that is thriving in this beautiful part of NSW's south coast.

 

Check out our Short+Sweet Illawarra Festival Trailer on YouTube

WEEK 1 PLAYS
The Colours in the Flames
You Should See A Doctor
Death Pops In
Banana Girl
Does the Means Justify the End?
Main Character Energy
The Waiting Room

WEEK 2 PLAYS
Audience Participation
Chick O Clock
Like Stars Exploding
Normality
Seeds In Your Pocket
Somebody That I Used to Know
The Concierge
The Dutiful Daughter
The Quilt
Worlds

ILLAWARRA FESTIVAL SCHEDULE 2023

Click on Session Times for Bookings

WILDCARDS: ILLAWARRA FILM FESTIVAL | 7:30PM Friday 5 August
FILIPINO FINALS: MANILA/CEBU FILM FESTIVAL (Australian Advanced Screening) | 3:00PM Sunday 6 August
ILLAWARRA THEATRE FESTIVAL WEEK 1 | 7:30PM 10-12 August 
ILLAWARRA CABARET & VOICES SHOWCASE | Sunday 13 August
ILLAWARRA THEATRE FESTIVAL WEEK 2 | 7:30PM 17 - 19 August

FINALS SEASON
ILLAWARRA GALA FINAL SHOWCASE  | 25 - 26 August
ILLAWARRA FILM FESTIVAL FINALS | 27 August

ILLAWARRA WEBSITE LINKS

SHORT+SWEET ILLAWARRA THEATRE FESTIVAL / GALA FINAL SHOWCASE | CLICK HERE
SHORT+SWEET ILLAWARRA FILM FESTIVAL | CLICK HERE
SHORT+SWEET ILLAWARRA DANCE FESTIVAL | CLICK HERE
SHORT+SWEET ILLAWARRA CABARET  | CLICK HERE
SHORT+SWEET ILLAWARRA VOICES | CLICK HERE

Festival Enquiries to luke.berman@shortandsweet.org

Short+Sweet Illawarra Theatre 2022

Short+Sweet Illawarra returns for its fourth and biggest season of bite-sized theatre to-date after its never-say-die sellout season in 2021 - a season not even COVID could deter.

2022 will see our Short+Sweet's "boutique" festival return with two weeks of theatre plays and our Short Film Festival.

THEATRE FESTIVAL SEASON DATES

Week 1 
THEATRE (Week 1) | 15 to 17 September

Week 2
THEATRE (Week 2) | 22 to 24 September
FILM (2022 Finals) | 25 September

Theatre Performances
7:30 pm Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays

TICKETS (Theatre)

Adult $25, Student Concession $20

If you have any questions please contact Executive Producer Luke Berman - luke.berman@shortandsweet.org

Short+Sweet Hollywood 2022

Short+Sweet - the biggest little festival in the world, returns to the Marylin Monroe Theatre at the Lee Strasberg Institute in West Hollywood, from September 26 - October 30, 2022!

This year's categories are English Language Theatre & LatinX Theatre and a new category called VARIETY! Please join us for regular events in the Actor's lounge, like and follow us on social media and stay tuned to this page for more announcements. 

As is the nature of live theatre and events, particularly in these often unpredictable times *ALL DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

LATINX JUDGES CHOICE (4 ADVANCE)

Tuesday October 25

OPEN THEATRE PEOPLE'S CHOICE (4 ADVANCE)

Wednesday October 26

LATINX PEOPLE'S CHOICE (4 ADVANCE)

Thursday October 27

OPEN THEATRE JUDGES CHOICE (4 ADVANCE)

Friday October 28

FINALS

LATINX FINAL

Saturday October 29

OPEN THEATRE FINAL

Saturday October 29

BEST OF THE FEST GALA - AWARDS NIGHT

Sunday October 30

Click on FESTIVAL SUBMISSIONS here to see the full list of ways that you can register to be a part of Short+Sweet Hollywood this year. As a director, writer, Independent Theatre Company or Actor in our Open English Language Program or Latinx program or a Variety Act or Artist.

UPDATE - AUDTIONS ARE BEING HELD SATURDAY AUGUST 13 AND SUNDAY AUGUST 14. These take place in 'The Haven' at the Lee Straberg Institute, 7936 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood. Timeslots are in accordance with PLAYING AGE for all genders.

11 to 11.30am                                 Under 17

11.30am to 12.15pm                      17-24

12.15pm to 1.45pm                        25-34

BREAK

2.30pm to 4pm                               35-49

4pm to 5pm                                    50-60

5pm to 5.45pm                              Over 60’s

 

You can sumbit a registration with a self tape right up until August 12 if you are unable to attend in person. All actors must prepare a 2 minute monologue for their audition.

 

WE'VE EXTENDED OUR SUBMISSION DEADLINES FOR PLAYS - you can submit your scripts by AUGUST 7 HERE!

On behalf of my artistic team, we look forward to welcoming writers, directors and performers to share their talents with us, as well as our audience, to experience these stories and a festival like no other!

Hooray for Hollywood!

Nick Hardcastle.

Festival Director

Short+Sweet Hollywood 

Short+Sweet Theatre Sydney 2022

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!

Click the BUY TICKETS button on the top right of our page to purchase your tickets now!!!
You don't want to miss out so get them early!!!

 

ROUND 2 SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED!!!

Thank you to everyone who has submitted to be a part of Short+Sweet Sydney 2022.

If successful in your submission, you will be contacted directly.

See you in the theatre!!!

 

ROUND 2 SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN

If you missed out on getting your submission in for Round 1 then you are in luck!!!!

Round 2 submissions are now OPEN so clickon the FESTIVAL SUBMISSIONS tab and get your application in as a Director, Actor or ITC.

Round 2 submissions close at 11.59pm on Monday August 15, 2022.

Come and help us celebrate our 20th birthday in a big way!!!!

 

UPDATE - 01/07/2022

Our Round 1 Submissions or our Sydney 20th Birthday Fest are now closed and we are so excited to see how the season is shaping up. 

We have been a little waylaid with new announcements as our Sydney venue tossed us some unexpected curve balls - but hey, if the last two years has taught us anything, it's how to adapt!

So with this in mind, here are the new dates for SYDNEY 2022.
Saturday July 30      Actor Auditions Day
Sunday September 4  It's our Birthday Party! Don't miss our Festival Launch Event!
Monday September 12 to Sunday September 18  DA SILVA Week 
Monday September 19 to Sunday September 25  WEEK OFF/Alternate Programming
Monday September 26 to Sunday October 2  LAWSON Week 
Monday October 3 to Sunday October 9  LIU Week
Monday October 10 to Sunday October 16  WEEK OFF
Monday October 17 to Sunday October 23 (except Oct 22)  FINALS
 
Sydney Directors will receive the TOP 80 plays shortlist next week. Registered actors, will receive advice for your auditions. Registered ITC's will be allocated their dates next week as well. Remaining 2021 participants we will confirm your participation and commence scheduling which will be in our first two weeks of programming.
 
[Updates will be posted here!](https://shortandsweet.org/festivals/shortsweet-theatre-sydney-2022)

WOULD YOU AND YOUR ORGANISATION LIKE TO PARTNER WITH US? Please get in touch if you'd like to receive a copy of our Sponsorship and Partnerships deck. Take out an ad in our program, donate prizes or lets work together to create a bespoke solution for you and your organisation to help you engage with our incredible Short+Sweet community!

The biggest little play festival in the world is turning 20 this year in its hometown of Sydney and will be returning to the Tom Mann Theatre in Surry Hills from August 28 - October 9!

Nick Hardcastle returns as Festival Director with Belinda Ling as Festival Producer. After having to reprogram the 2021 festival 5 times due to COVID and associated restrictions in 2021, Nick and Belinda are focusing on a consolidated and elevated event that is a true celebration of the great spirit, legacy and format that everyone loves about Short+Sweet! Oh and there will be cake!

All remaining plays that were invited in to the 2021 festival and were unable to be presented will be automatically invited to appear this year.  There will be NO WILDCARDS this year. Everyone who is accepted in the Festival will be programmed in competition and will be guaranteed two evenings and one matinee performance. Our groups this year will be named after some inspring artists who have been members of our Short+Sweet Sydney community and have gone on to continue to inspire us in their respective artistic lives.

SUBMIT YOUR SCRIPT by June 17, 2022 HERE!!

Short+Sweet is, at its heart, a community and professional development, cultural event. It is a wonderful opportunity for writers, directors and actors who want to share their voice and talent in a professional environment and venue. Its goal is to become a powerful tool for diversity in the entertainment industry, as well as providing a way to discover new or established local talent by engaging more people in the live theatre experience. The festival multiplies participants' raw and creative energy, with different ensembles, directors and writers exchanging ideas, learning from each other and providing creative inspiration.
 
With this in mind, in 2021 we created our very first DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE

"To ensure that we have the opportunity to see the full breadth of our community here in Sydney represented on stage, I am building a Diversity and Inclusion Programming Team. Everyone on this team will be asked to engage with specific community groups of writers, directors and actors to make sure that those artists have an opportunity to participate in the festival and that their stories can be shared. Whether they be diversely abled, BIPOC, new immigrants, LGBTQ+, have English as a second language or are elderly - I want anyone that might think that there isn't a place for them in the open English language program of Short+Sweet, to know that we have room for them and want them to be seen and heard," says FD Nick Hardcastle.

Your City, Your Stories - YOUR FESTIVAL since 2002!

To find out more or to apply to join our D&I Committee, contact nick.hardcastle@shortandsweet.org

SPONSORSHIP AND PARTNERSHIPS

Short+Sweet presents a unique opportunity to sponsors and partners to reach thousands of people over a extended period. With in theatre activations, on screen loops, outdoor signage, verbal acknowledgements, merchandise, a printed festival brochure, special events, prize giving opportunities and an endless array of bespoke collaborations possible - now is the time to get your brand or company involved with our incredibly engaged community!

To request a sponsorship and partnerships proposal, contact nick.hardcastle@shortandsweet.org

VOLUNTEERS

If you have a passion for the theatre and would like to be a part of our great team then REGISTER HERE! We have roles waiting for you behind the scenes in production, props, front of house, sponsorship and more!!! We’d love to hear from you!

We look forward to welcoming our community back to share Short+Sweet Sydney's 20th Birthday Festival 2022 with us at the Tom Mann Theatre, 136 Chalmers Street Surry Hills. 

#shortandsweet  #sssydney2022 #shortsweetfest

 
 

Short+Sweet Perth 2022

Yes!  As promised, Short+Sweet Perth is coming back in 2022, again on the Main Stage at the excellent Subiaco Arts Centre.  If you participated in our inaugural season in 2021 we want you back - please register and tell your friends.  If you're new to Short+Sweet, read on.

Short+Sweet Perth is an open access competitive festival of 10 minute plays.  We bring together a broad range of artists - professional performing artists working alongside talented enthusiasts, as well as artists with experience and expertise in other artforms trying their hand at theatre. 

We commence with a series of heats and finish with finals comprising the top 10 plays as voted by our audiences and assessed by industry judges.  It is great theatre for participants and audiences.

We are looking for writers, directors and actors, either independently or as part of a local theatre company.  You can bring your own script, or we will provide you a selection to choose from our library of phenomenal local and international scripts.

Short+Sweet Perth is presented in proud partnership with the Perth Theatre Trust.

The Short+Sweet family is committed to building a more creative world, 10 minutes at a time. The platform provides an accessible and enjoyable theatrical experience to individuals from all walks of life, and gives them the opportunity to connect with creatives from all over the world.  Be part of it!

KEY DATES 2022 *

Final reading of Edge Performance Writers scripts (directors invited - and actors for cold readings): afternoon Sunday 23 January, Subiaco Arts Centre
Script submission deadline:  Sunday 6 February
Director registration deadline:  Sunday 13 February
Independent Theatre company with own script:  Register script by Sunday 13 February
Directors meeting with Festival Director:  Sunday 20 February
Script packs provided by Festival Director to directors:  25 February
Directors provide Festival Director with script preferences:  By Saturday 5 March
Festival Director advises directors of script allocation:  By Tuesday 8 March
Actor registration deadline:  Sunday 6 March
Auditions:  Weekend of 12 - 13 March
Season (heats) commences:  19 May
   Week 1:  19 - 21 May
   Week 2:  26 - 28 May
   Week 3:  2 - 4 June
   Week 4:  9 - 11 June
   Finals:  23, 24, 25 June
Season concludes:  25 June

As a participant, you will perform in one of our heats (3 performances during one of the above weeks in the season), and then potentially go through to the finals.  Please assume you will be in the finals and keep the full set of dates free for now!

*  All dates 2022.  All deadlines are midnight that day.

KEEN TO BE INVOLVED?

Short+Sweet Perth updates will be available on our Facebook page - @ShortandSweetPerth - please follow us.

Writers: please submit your script(s) by the end of Sunday 6 February 2022 by clicking on 'Submit a Script' toward the top of this page.

Directors: please register your interest by the end of Sunday 20 February (go to 'Festival Submissions' above).

Independent Theatre Companies (ITC): please first register your director under 'Festival Submissions' above.  If you are bringing your own script you will also need to register that by clicking on 'Submit a Script' toward the top of the pageThese steps should be completed by the end of Sunday 20 February.

Actors: auditions will be held at the Subiaco Arts Centre the weekend of 12 - 13 March (pencil this in!).  Please register for audition by the end of Sunday 6 March (go to 'Festival Submissions' above).

Volunteers: you are always welcome! If you are interested in publicity and marketing, front of house, or backstage aspects of the Festival please contact the festival director (details below)!  

Note writers may submit as many scripts as they like, but only one may be selected for any one festival.  Directors may only direct one play.  Actors - you may perform in up to two plays.

FOR ANYTHING ELSE...

If you need assistance with your submission or have any general queries please do not hesitate to contact festival director, Michael Wood, at michael.wood@shortandsweet.org

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