IT’S got the reputation of being the biggest ten-minute theatre festival in the world, and it started in Australia.

The “Short + Sweet” festival is back in Canberra for its fifth year this week at the Courtyard Studio in the Canberra Theatre Centre with a lineup of 30 ten-minute plays directed and performed by an extraordinary cross-section  of Canberra’s local theatre and musical talent.

Amazingly, this year has seen a record number of local entries for this year’s festival and with 22 of the plays chosen written in the ACT, the nation’s Capital’s   will be well-represented. Haven’t we been telling if you use that every second Canberran has a play sitting in a drawer somewhere?

And it’s entirely democratic, with the CEO of the ACT’s Cultural Facilities Corporation, Harriet Elvin, on the list of playwrights for  the second year running

Short+Sweet Canberra 2013 has been put together by festival director, theatre director and teacher Kate Gaul, who enthuses, “The ACT Theatre scene is incredibly vibrant, with a host of companies and theatre artists already creating some wonderful, innovative and engaging theatre.”

The festival, will include  comedy, drama, physical, puppetry, poetic, absurd—but absolutely nothing over 10 minutes will climax with a Gala Final on Saturday 17 August 17 when the most outstanding ten plays, as selected by judges and the audience during the Festival, will compete for the ultimate crown of winner of Short+Sweet Canberra 2013.

This year’s festival will also feature a masterclass programme on Fridays August 9 and 16 at 5.30pm and is open to all Canberrans (free of charge)  upon arrival at the theatre, but those interested are advised arrive early to avoid disappointment.

“The festival is a brilliant opportunity to learn more about your craft, network with other theatre artists, act in a great role, direct an exciting new play or have your work performed on stage, which is the ultimate thrill for any playwright” Gaul says.

The 2013 edition of “Short+Sweet” at The Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre until Saturday,  August 17, bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

The continuing season program for week 1 is below; “CityNews” will update readers on week 2:

Top 20 – Week One, August 7-9, 7.30pm

“Blabbermouth” by Cerise de Gleder (Vic). Directed by Tom O’Neill. Cast: Alex Rouse, Scott Rutar, Monica Styles.

“The Luck of the Irish” by Harriet Elvin (ACT).  Directed by Paul Hutchison. Cast: Nikki-Lyn Hunter, Shivangi Nayyar, Paul Hutchison.

“Ten Years On” by Amelia Luscombe (Vic). Directed by Heidy Perri. Cast: Elaine Noon, Adam Salter, Dayne Spencer.

“10 Minute Mystery” by Nigel Palfreman (ACT). Directed by Liz de Totth. Cast: Paul Jackson.

“Level 2” by Mike McRae (ACT). Directed by Remy Graham. Cast: Alex Rouse, Nick Elmitt, Judith Peterson, Jade Chan.

INTERVAL

“Night Watch” by Debbie Stephan (ACT).  Directed by Cara Jeffery. Cast: Dan Halpin, Liliana Bogatko.

“Reading Lamouche” by Finnius Teppett (NZ). Directed by Ryan Pemberton. Cast: Brendan Kelly, Jessica Waterhouse, Stevan Savic, Colin Giles, Jade Chan.

“Duplo’s Revenge” by Melissa Gryglewska (ACT).  Directed by Melissa Gryglewska. Company: Space. Cast: Ben Harris, Matt Perry, Melissa Gryglewska.

“The House of Cats” by Margaret Allen (ACT).  Directed by Simon Whitford. Company: somepeopledance  Cast: Margaret Allen.

“Here to Serve You” by Barbara Lindsay (USA). Directed by Arne Sjostedt. Cast: Shane Stark, Georgia Pelle, Bryan Pike.

 Wildcards program: Saturday, August 10, 2.30pm and 7.30pm

“Facebook or Face Me” by Heidi Silberman (ACT). Directed by Heidi Silberman. Company: Spark; Cast: Sarah Truesdale, Heidi Silberman.

“Written in Stone” by Evan Croker (ACT). Directed by Evan Croker. Company: Amazon Entertainment; Cast: Adam Salter, Cara Jeffery, Wayne Shepherd, Ian Crocker.

“The Bra in the Car” by Heidi Silberman (ACT).  Directed by Melissa Gryglewska. Cast: Cara Jeffrey, Tim Maloney, Sam Bilten-Simek, Lynn Peterson.

“Remember” by Heidy Perri (ACT).  Directed by Arne Sjostedt. Cast: Kristin Louise, Lucy Bates.

“The Letter Q” devised by the company (ACT). Directed by Jeff Young and Nick Anyos. Company: Child Players ACT (Winners Fast+Fresh 2013). Cast: Jemma Collins, Kitty Malam, Oliver Simonetti , Lachlan Bryant, Jaslyn Mairs Oliver Durbidge, Emily Nicholls, Claire Bailey, Zoe Swan, Jemma Harrison.

INTERVAL

“Guided by Voices” by Mark Konik (ACT). Directed by Cara Matthews. Cast: Jeremy Strasser, Dan Halpin.

“Advanced” by Michael Cooper (USA). Directed by Martina Donker. Cast: John Lombard, Cara Matthews, Ben Harris.

“Thirsty Rat” by Spiros Althanasiadis (Vic).  Directed by Katie Woodward. Cast: Ben Drysdale, Patrick Shields, Josh Inman, Ashleigh Walker.

“The Blue Balloon” by Angie Farrow (NZ).  Directed by Tanya Gruber. Cast: Don Smith, Catherine Van Mort, Jonathan Garland, Jade Chan, Murray Holdom, Atiana Cansdell, Jess Waterhouse, Steve Collett.