Short+Sweet reaches its final week of heats from 22 March… with most of the finalists already confirmed for both the semi-finals week - from Tues 27 March to Sun 1 April - and the ultimate Gala Awards Finals 5-7 April.
Among the ten last hopeful short plays on offer this week is Channel 8 by Act IV Theatre Co - a brilliant parody of TV News with a satirical feminist twist! Wendy Winkler directs Melinda Ryan’s play starring Ryan herself with Niamh Burke, Kaitlin de Lacy, Riccardo Ingle, Jeremy Jackson, Annelies Tjetjep and Monica Ulibarri.
Prolific and multi-award-winning playwright Allan West’s The Last Cuppa sees an old couple celebrating yet another anniversary… But Stan discovers a side of Ethel he has never seen before! Simon Doctor directs Rowena McNicol, Deidre Campbell - and himself!
Ask Me Anything by Philip Middleton Williams (US) has ‘Martin’ front up to a job interview only for things to get seriously out of hand. Florence Florens directs Jake Paul & Mel Smith as the ‘boss’.
In Paper Cuts, Brisbane pair Lara Rix and Rose Nguyen prepare to perform their self-devised physical theatre piece… when something weird occurs!
Movies with Naarni by Short+Sweet veteran Uma Kali Shakti sees grandma Naarni (Jorie Licett) prepare to teach her adolescent grandson about life. Kazuyo Kitada directs.
Crime doesn’t pay… but it sometimes comes with a nice appetizer. In The Spanish Room, written and directed by another S+S veteran, Craig Delahoy, Millie and Hector fail badly at robbery, technology and the English language. Rizcel Gagawanan, Duncan Armitage, Liz Hovey and Mark Fowler star.
Finally, HMS Headwind is a musical comedy about a not-so-skilled 1880s British naval crew. Abigail the Pirate Queen and her uncle Captain Abernathy battle it out over whose crew is in ship shape. Silly jokes and gender equality themes are the go as Alicia Badger, Jarrod Kitto, Alex Fenner, Laura Bailey, Sean Bermingham and Nathan Bolton star, directed by Amelia Gilday.
Short+Sweet Theatre takes place at the Tom Mann Theatre, 136 Chalmers St, Surry Hills. Tickets for Top 80 Week 8 (Thur-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 6.30pm) and tickets are $25. The People’s Choice Showcase performances are Tues 27 and Wed 28 March; Crew Cut finals Thurs 29 and Fri 30 March (all 7.30pm and tickets $30) and the Wildcards finals Sat 31 March 3.30pm and Sun 1 April 2.30pm (tickets $25). The gala finals are Thurs 5, Fri 6 and Sat 7 April (tickets $40).
Short+Sweet Film takes place too each Tuesday night in March (tickets just $15) with its own final on Saturday 31 March at 7.30pm (tickets $25).
NB also the associated charity event Flicks for Change takes place Sat 17 March at 1.30pm.
More info, weekly program and bookings are all available at www.shortandsweet.org/sydney Also visit www.flicks4change.org/
Detailed media releases regarding the Short+Sweet Theatre finals and Short+Sweet Film are available under separate cover.
Media: for more info, great images, interviews, individual play briefs or other details contact Geoff at Sirmai Arts Marketing e: geoff@sirmai.com.au, ph: 9345 0360 m: 0412 669 272
