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Canberra Today 13°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

‘Short+Sweet Canberra’ – delectable, short bites of theatre

“SHORT+SWEET”, Australia-born and now and the world’s ‘biggest little play fest’, opens tomorrow at The Courtyard Studio.

“It’s All the Rage”,  starring Nick Steain
“It’s All the Rage”, starring Nick Steain

The first week’s program follows the usual formula — 10 all-new 10-minute plays from Canberra, interstate and overseas. Then there’ll be a double ‘side-serve’ of Wildcards on Saturday.

In “The Ice Age” by Sue Clennell and directed by Erin Foote, two young girls (Kate Rankine and Dairinn Bannister) engage in imaginative play as they wait for the new Ice Age… but the conversation turns to their violent past.

US writer Carl J. Sorheim’s “It’s All the Rage” is a solo piece featuring Nick Steain. Chris Baldock directs this chilling piece about sexual violence and the blurred lines between reality and imagination, and Child Players ACT present “Mime of Steel”.

Festival director Trevar Alan Chilver says “Short+Sweet Canberra” is both local and eclectic.

Trevar Alan Chilver
Trevar Alan Chilver

“Plays are submitted from all around the world but half of those shortlisted must be local work. Most performers who participate come from Canberra or its surrounds but we also welcome many visiting actors and directors from Sydney and Melbourne,” Chilver says.

The event will culminate in the Gala Awards Finals on Saturday August 20, where judges vote for Best Play, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Script. The audience will also choose its ‘People’s Choice’.

Canberra’s Drama Star Academy presents  'The Family Play'
Canberra’s Drama Star Academy presents ‘The Family Play’

Among the highlights of the ‘Wildcard’ side season on Saturday are “Just Another Day” (or ‘The Family Play’) featuring a young cast from Canberra’s Drama Star Academy and  an Indian play, “The Bridge”, featuring two local Indian Australian actors.

According to the organisers, the festival present  a ‘platter’ of delectable short ‘bites’ of theatre.

 “Short+Sweet Canberra”, August 9-20, Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre.  ‘Top 20’ Weeks 1 and 2 – Tues-Fri 7.30pm, ‘Wildcards’ Saturday August 13, 2.30pm and 7.30pm, Gala Final Saturday  August  20, 2.30pm and 7.30pm.  Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au  or 6275 2700 Program details at shortandsweet.org

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Helen Musa

Helen Musa

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