This year in the Canberra event, among the selected plays is one written by a senior arts leader and directed by another.

Harriet Elvin, CEO of the Cultural Facilities Corporation, is tickled pink that her “very fledgling” play, “Four Letter Words” is to be showcased at this year’s season, with Belconnen Arts Centre chair Evol McLeod, directing.

“Short+Sweet” is open to all styles of theatre from comedy to drama, physical to puppetry, poetic to absurd. This year’s winner will get to be staged at “Short+Sweet Sydney” in early 2013.

According to Elvin, she’s had a play shortlisted before, but it didn’t quite make the cut. This year’s director, Alec Broun, singled out her work “because it’s unusual.”

You can say that again. Elvin has written a play composed entirely of four letter words – and no, I don’t mean THAT kind of four letter word, though she says there may be a hint of one at the end.

In her university days, she was never a member of the celebrated Footlights Club, but says writing a play was “something I’d like to do more of” and once here, she joined the ACT Writers’ Centre to learn about the craft.

She’s especially pleased that McLeod, an old friend, was asked by “Short+Sweet” to direct her play, which she’ll be doing in a style Elvin describes as “quirky and whimsical.”

“Short+Sweet Canberra,” The Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre, August 22 –September 1, bookings to 6275 2700.