Short+Sweet Climax!
Image: Kate Jirelle and Annette van Roden in To Those I Left Behind Photo: Luke Agius
By DAVID IVANI
The big end of the little play festival, Short+Sweet Theatre, has arrived. The semi-finals, grand finale, and awards presentation will be held across three days at the Tom Mann Theatre, Surry Hills.
On Friday October 21, eight 10-minute plays contend in the Judges’ semi-final, followed on Saturday afternoon by People’s Choice semi-final showcasing an additional eight plays. On Saturday night, the best four from each of these will perform once more for audience and judges.
This will all come to a climactic conclusion on Sunday with finalists exhibiting their final ‘encore’ performance, and awards presented shortly after.
Returning to its hometown, Sydney, the ‘biggest little play festival in the world’, Short+Sweet, is celebrating its 20th year. Since the foundation of the festival, its goal has been community engagement & involvement, acting as a tool for discovering new and upcoming talents, and taking industry diversity to heart.
The festival features performances across the dancing, singing, cabaret, and theatre landscapes. It both develops new and original works with upcoming artists and provides a platform for already-established performers.
Just as the name suggests, Short+Sweet limits performances to a strict 10-minute duration. The festival believes that short-lived performances are just as effective as long-form ones, if not more.
Favourite picks
To Those I Left Behind: performance showcasing the last goodbye between three teachers and their students – their frustrations, passions, and sadness are succinctly portrayed in the 10 minutes.
Rosa & Leo: a love story of separation and reunion that outshines the elements of war and tragedy, a couple rediscovering each other across the world.
All’s Will That Ends Will: a man can only engage through the words of Shakespeare.
The Last Taboo: a couple are thrown into a descending vortex of recrimination as they finally share too much.
Flat Meat Society: a West Virginia woman is on the way to fame and fortune cooking a very unconventional cuisine.
Oh Nanna!: an hilarious romp through retirement and privilege as a family secret paints Nanna in an entirely new light.
