SHORT SWEET GRAND FINALE
March 5th 2010 06:48
SHORT SWEET SYDNEY 2010
GALA FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
The finalists for Short and Sweet Sydney 2010 have been confirmed and will battle it out on the big stage at NIDA’s Parade Theatre on Saturday 13 (plus a preview performance on Friday 12th).
The Gala Final of Short and Sweet is one of the biggest nights on the Sydney Theatre calendar: the best 12 plays from the largest ten minute play festival in the world are presented for two nights only at the magnificent NIDA Parade Theatre. The culmination of two months of competition, with 170 ten minute plays presented at two theatres, all comes down to one amazing - and amazingly varied - night of theatre.
After the plays are performed celebrity judges will present awards such as Best Actor, Best Writer and Best Director as well as the top prize, the Short Sweet Award for the Best Overall production of the Festival. Extra sparkle is added by Movie Extra filming the event to be televised later in the year as the series To Be or Not to Be.
SHORT AND SWEET SYDNEY 2010 GALA FINALISTS
It’s All The Rage
(Wildcards winner)
Writer: Carl J. Sorheim (VIC) Director: Susie Hardgrave
Cast: Anthony Slater (Man)
This man has his eye on the hot girl working in Starbucks.
When his plan to show her how he feels keeps meeting delays,
he gets angry. Just how angry can one man get?
Life of Death
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 4)
Writer: Nir Shelter and Terence Foltyn Director: Nir Shelter
Set and props: Eddy Taylor
Cast: Brett Heath (Death), Tai Scrivener (Garry)
Death in the 21st century hides behind a burgeoning bureaucracy
until Garry un-wittingly brings Death to admit he no longer believes
he can perform his job. Death learns to appreciate his work, life and -
most importantly - himself.
Lifetime
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 3)
Writer: Angie Farrow (NZ) Director: Beverley Callow
Cast: Renee Lim (Megan), Matt Thomson (Elliot)
Is it possible to be loved in a lifetime of ten minutes?
Mr & Mrs Metcalfe enjoy the Music of Elton John
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 6)
Writer: Frank Legget (NSW) Director: Felicity Nicol
Film Advisor: Jeremy Brull Cast: Karen Cobban & Graham Yates
Star trek, travelling and trivia. Come join the Metcalfes for
a cuppa tea and a couple of stories.
Perfect Stillness
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 2)
Writer: Jane Miller (VIC) Director: Amelia Tranter
Cast: Ro Dempsey (Annie), Ben Brock (Tim), Chris Lewis (Mr Harrison)
Can you really “know” your partner? Tim and Annie discover
that after 12 years together, on some things, they stand
miles apart. But what is “truth” anyway, and in the end,
does it even matter?
Pride & Prejudice - in ten minutes flat
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 NIDA Parade Playhouse Week 1)
Writer: Tim Hehir (Vic) Director: David Farland
Costume Designer: Teresa Negroponte
Musical Director: Charlie Coy
Musicians: Olga Solar (violin) Angus Gardiner (cellist)
Choreographer: Caroline Mooney
Cast: Celia Kelly (Lizzie Bennet), Nick Hunter (Darcy),
Sontaan Hopson (Jane Bennet), Peter Lawrence-Wenke (Mr Bingley)
Based on Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, this humorous play
depicts love and life in the English upper class during the early 19th century.
Putting Your Best Foot Forward *
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 1)
Writer: Pat Brennan (NSW)
Director: Katherine R. Davis
Cast: Andy Leonard (Clive), Charles Billeh (Santos)
The opening night of a new production has Santos making his
theatrical debut under the watchful eye of seasoned campaigner Clive.
*Invited to participate in Short Sweet as one of the winners of
Crash Test Drama - December 2009 final.
Rain of Ruin
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 5)
Writer: Elaine Romero (USA)
Director: Sadashivam Rao, Mayu Iwasaki (Associate Director)
Cast: Nastassja Djalog (Agnes), Shingo Usami ( Kenji),
Michael Curnick (Harry Truman), Mayu Iwasaki (Japanese Sister),
Haruna Kawachi (Japanese woman), Wayne Underwood (Oppenheimer)
Costume and Stage Design: Mayu Iwasaki
Described as “eye-opening” by Variety Magazine, Rain of Ruin follows an
American woman to Japan where she falls in love with a Japanese man.
The only thing that stands between them is the atomic bomb.
Seven Jewish Children: A Play for Gaza
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 NIDA Parade Playhouse Week 3)
Writer: Caryl Churchill (UK)
Director: Sarah Goodes
Designed by : Marissa Dale-Johnson, ITC: Splinter Theatre Company
Cast: Anna Martin, Sophie Gregg, Kate Buchanan, Chris Lewis,
Andrew James and Daniel Hunter.
This controversial play by British playwright Caryl Churchill was
written in response to the 2008-2009 Israel operation in Gaza.
The play consists of seven short scenes about crucial stages in the
history of Israel and explores explaining violence to children.
Taking A Bullet
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 NIDA Parade Playhouse Week 2)
Writer: Steve McGrath (NSW) Director: Alan Smithee ITC:
Still Knocks Productions
Cast: Gerry Sont (Agent Kubrick), Steve McGrath (Nathan)
President Obama is protected by the United States Secret Service.
Prime Minister Rudd has Nathan.
Thin Air
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 7)
Writer: Thomas Coash
Director: David Ritchie
Design: Tony Youlden
Cast: Gertraud Ingeborg
A circus performer prepares to step again onto the high wire
after her husband has ‘come down’ (fallen to his death).
Tipping Point
(People’s Choice Gala Finalist)
Writer: Mark Andrew (VIC)
Director: James Balian
Cast: Deborah Bradshaw (Laura), Yannick Lawry (Rob)
Breaking up makes Laura and Rob re-evaluate their relationship.
SHORT SWEET Sydney 2010 Gala Final
Parade Theatre NIDA
Saturday March 13th at 7.30pm
PREVIEW: Friday March 12th at 7.30pm
Tickets $40/35 Bookings 1300 795 012 online: www.ticketek.com.au (Booking fees may apply)
WEEK SIX REPORT BELOW
1000th new Aussie play to be announced!
NIDA and NEWTOWN!
Short Sweet Sydney 2010, doubles the fun from 9 Feb when a full weekly program begins at NIDA’s Parade Playhouse in parallel to the continuing program at Newtown Theatre.
And at Tuesday’s historic opening night at NIDA, Short Sweet will name the 1000th new Australian play produced by the festival! Its playwright will be honoured and the milestone – an extraordinary one in the context of the Arts in this country – will be suitably celebrated! All will be revealed on the night!
Meanwhile, leading the way in the Top 100 program at the Parade Playhouse from Tuesday to Saturday is Mamdouh Habib starring in an autobiographical piece (co-written with Kuranda Seyit) about his time in Guantanamo Bay. It features Melinda Nassif as his wife Maha and Julian Brophy as the Australian interrogator.
Superfossils written and directed by Elizabeth Pulsford visits a retirement village for superheroes where the residents plan a daring ‘escape’. It stars Jamie Timony, Madeline Dyer, Burgess Abernethy, Vittoria Rex Fadden, Hari Jago and Pulsford herself.
Russell Crowe, Gupta and the Dalek by Jackie Greenland and directed by Christine Greenough follows Australia’s tough-guy actor on a taxi-ride from hell. With Heath Wilder, Valentino Arico and Carlos Sivalingam.
Gunfight at the Venus by Kings Cross historian Stephen Carnell, directed by Michael Bock recreates a 1970 fight in a notorious Kings Cross brothel. Stars Anthony Hunt, Josephyne Oliveri, Brendan Wynter & Marissa Wynne.
Hibiscus Memories by Lismore writer Bette Guy, directed by Meg Rowe stars Joan Rodd, Hugo Grisco, Amanda Lieber, Jack Gow and Cameron Ellis. “Hibiscus leaves saved Rosa’s husband in a Japanese POW camp. Now her son wants to chop down their hibiscus hedge. How can Rose beat him at his own game?”
Margaret Bowen’s Normal – directed by Liane Norman – is an absurdist comedy about love, family… and a blow up doll. It stars Steven McGrath, Brooke Doherty, Brennan Muhoberac and Alison Meredith.
1000 Mile High Club is a comedy about a less-than-immaculate conception on the first commercial flight into space. By Christopher Welldon, dir Sam Genocchio, it stars Pat Booker, Bianca Bradey, Kerrie Gee & Ted Crosby.
The Closet is a kooky satire on kid’s TV where ‘censored’ toys scheme to get out of the closet and prove their ‘family values’. Written by Aoise Stratford, it’s directed by Heath Wilder and stars Kevin Curley as Bar Sponge Round Trousers, Anthony Hunt as Bernard the Dinosaur and Simone Oliver as Twinkle the Teletubby!
Meanwhile at Newtown Theatre from Wednesday, Crush by Kate Toon and directed by Catherine Hollyman sees Alex (Niki Simpson) as the perfect PA to Don Christopher’s CEO. Except she wants to lick him and bite him and rip off his underwear with her teeth!
Among other highlights at Newtown Theatre is The Petrified Book written and directed by Carol Dance and starring Sandy Kerr. This comic piece about unpacking love and loss is filled with irony and provocations.
WILDCARDS
One-off Wildcard plays on Sat 13 at 3pm at the NIDA Parade Playhouse include # 7,707,304,491 by Tim Lethorn where a cell door’s mysterious opening begs questions for an amazed prisoner; A Gentleman Always Removes His Hat by Emma Moore (Best New Talent for Short Sweet Melbourne 2009); Recession by Uma Kali Shakti; Little Star by Stephen Nichols, where and astronaut prepares to leave his wife and infant child for 16 years; If Only There Were a Magic Pill by Bruce Daniel (using text entirely pulled from internet search engine results), the poetic Unfinished Business by Annaki Kissas; the quirky romantic What Now? by Rebecca Greensill, Froot by Marian Davis and It’s all the Rage by Carl Sorjeim, the winner of Short Sweet Melbourne 2009.
Upcoming highlights include Sydney premieres for Caryl Churchill’s Seven Jewish Children and Edward Albee’s brilliant The Sandbox. Plus the timely Taking a Bullet, a hilarious meeting between the very different bodyguards of Kevin Rudd and Barack Obama! ASIO: take note!
The full program of works for Short Sweet Theatre Sydney 2010 is published here
Top 100 NIDA Parade Playhouse Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm, Tickets $28/$24
Top 100 Newtown Theatre Wed-Sat 8.15pm, Sun 5.15pm Tickets $28/$24
Wildcards NIDA Parade Playhouse Sat 3pm Tickets $25/$22
Bookings for NIDA shows or 1300 795 012
Bookings for Newtown Theatre shows or 8507 3034
GALA FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
The finalists for Short and Sweet Sydney 2010 have been confirmed and will battle it out on the big stage at NIDA’s Parade Theatre on Saturday 13 (plus a preview performance on Friday 12th).
The Gala Final of Short and Sweet is one of the biggest nights on the Sydney Theatre calendar: the best 12 plays from the largest ten minute play festival in the world are presented for two nights only at the magnificent NIDA Parade Theatre. The culmination of two months of competition, with 170 ten minute plays presented at two theatres, all comes down to one amazing - and amazingly varied - night of theatre.
SHORT AND SWEET SYDNEY 2010 GALA FINALISTS
It’s All The Rage
(Wildcards winner)
Writer: Carl J. Sorheim (VIC) Director: Susie Hardgrave
Cast: Anthony Slater (Man)
This man has his eye on the hot girl working in Starbucks.
When his plan to show her how he feels keeps meeting delays,
Life of Death
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 4)
Writer: Nir Shelter and Terence Foltyn Director: Nir Shelter
Set and props: Eddy Taylor
Cast: Brett Heath (Death), Tai Scrivener (Garry)
Death in the 21st century hides behind a burgeoning bureaucracy
until Garry un-wittingly brings Death to admit he no longer believes
he can perform his job. Death learns to appreciate his work, life and -
most importantly - himself.
Lifetime
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 3)
Writer: Angie Farrow (NZ) Director: Beverley Callow
Cast: Renee Lim (Megan), Matt Thomson (Elliot)
Is it possible to be loved in a lifetime of ten minutes?
Mr & Mrs Metcalfe enjoy the Music of Elton John
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 6)
Writer: Frank Legget (NSW) Director: Felicity Nicol
Film Advisor: Jeremy Brull Cast: Karen Cobban & Graham Yates
Star trek, travelling and trivia. Come join the Metcalfes for
a cuppa tea and a couple of stories.
Perfect Stillness
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 2)
Writer: Jane Miller (VIC) Director: Amelia Tranter
Cast: Ro Dempsey (Annie), Ben Brock (Tim), Chris Lewis (Mr Harrison)
Can you really “know” your partner? Tim and Annie discover
that after 12 years together, on some things, they stand
miles apart. But what is “truth” anyway, and in the end,
does it even matter?
Pride & Prejudice - in ten minutes flat
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 NIDA Parade Playhouse Week 1)
Writer: Tim Hehir (Vic) Director: David Farland
Costume Designer: Teresa Negroponte
Musical Director: Charlie Coy
Musicians: Olga Solar (violin) Angus Gardiner (cellist)
Choreographer: Caroline Mooney
Cast: Celia Kelly (Lizzie Bennet), Nick Hunter (Darcy),
Sontaan Hopson (Jane Bennet), Peter Lawrence-Wenke (Mr Bingley)
Based on Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, this humorous play
depicts love and life in the English upper class during the early 19th century.
Putting Your Best Foot Forward *
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 1)
Writer: Pat Brennan (NSW)
Director: Katherine R. Davis
Cast: Andy Leonard (Clive), Charles Billeh (Santos)
The opening night of a new production has Santos making his
theatrical debut under the watchful eye of seasoned campaigner Clive.
*Invited to participate in Short Sweet as one of the winners of
Crash Test Drama - December 2009 final.
Rain of Ruin
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 5)
Writer: Elaine Romero (USA)
Director: Sadashivam Rao, Mayu Iwasaki (Associate Director)
Cast: Nastassja Djalog (Agnes), Shingo Usami ( Kenji),
Michael Curnick (Harry Truman), Mayu Iwasaki (Japanese Sister),
Haruna Kawachi (Japanese woman), Wayne Underwood (Oppenheimer)
Costume and Stage Design: Mayu Iwasaki
Described as “eye-opening” by Variety Magazine, Rain of Ruin follows an
American woman to Japan where she falls in love with a Japanese man.
The only thing that stands between them is the atomic bomb.
Seven Jewish Children: A Play for Gaza
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 NIDA Parade Playhouse Week 3)
Writer: Caryl Churchill (UK)
Director: Sarah Goodes
Designed by : Marissa Dale-Johnson, ITC: Splinter Theatre Company
Cast: Anna Martin, Sophie Gregg, Kate Buchanan, Chris Lewis,
Andrew James and Daniel Hunter.
This controversial play by British playwright Caryl Churchill was
written in response to the 2008-2009 Israel operation in Gaza.
The play consists of seven short scenes about crucial stages in the
history of Israel and explores explaining violence to children.
Taking A Bullet
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 NIDA Parade Playhouse Week 2)
Writer: Steve McGrath (NSW) Director: Alan Smithee ITC:
Still Knocks Productions
Cast: Gerry Sont (Agent Kubrick), Steve McGrath (Nathan)
President Obama is protected by the United States Secret Service.
Prime Minister Rudd has Nathan.
Thin Air
(Judge’s Choice - Top 100 Newtown Theatre Week 7)
Writer: Thomas Coash
Director: David Ritchie
Design: Tony Youlden
Cast: Gertraud Ingeborg
A circus performer prepares to step again onto the high wire
after her husband has ‘come down’ (fallen to his death).
Tipping Point
(People’s Choice Gala Finalist)
Writer: Mark Andrew (VIC)
Director: James Balian
Cast: Deborah Bradshaw (Laura), Yannick Lawry (Rob)
Breaking up makes Laura and Rob re-evaluate their relationship.
SHORT SWEET Sydney 2010 Gala Final
Parade Theatre NIDA
Saturday March 13th at 7.30pm
PREVIEW: Friday March 12th at 7.30pm
Tickets $40/35 Bookings 1300 795 012 online: www.ticketek.com.au (Booking fees may apply)
WEEK SIX REPORT BELOW
NIDA and NEWTOWN!
Short Sweet Sydney 2010, doubles the fun from 9 Feb when a full weekly program begins at NIDA’s Parade Playhouse in parallel to the continuing program at Newtown Theatre.
And at Tuesday’s historic opening night at NIDA, Short Sweet will name the 1000th new Australian play produced by the festival! Its playwright will be honoured and the milestone – an extraordinary one in the context of the Arts in this country – will be suitably celebrated! All will be revealed on the night!
Meanwhile, leading the way in the Top 100 program at the Parade Playhouse from Tuesday to Saturday is Mamdouh Habib starring in an autobiographical piece (co-written with Kuranda Seyit) about his time in Guantanamo Bay. It features Melinda Nassif as his wife Maha and Julian Brophy as the Australian interrogator.
Superfossils written and directed by Elizabeth Pulsford visits a retirement village for superheroes where the residents plan a daring ‘escape’. It stars Jamie Timony, Madeline Dyer, Burgess Abernethy, Vittoria Rex Fadden, Hari Jago and Pulsford herself.
Russell Crowe, Gupta and the Dalek by Jackie Greenland and directed by Christine Greenough follows Australia’s tough-guy actor on a taxi-ride from hell. With Heath Wilder, Valentino Arico and Carlos Sivalingam.
Gunfight at the Venus by Kings Cross historian Stephen Carnell, directed by Michael Bock recreates a 1970 fight in a notorious Kings Cross brothel. Stars Anthony Hunt, Josephyne Oliveri, Brendan Wynter & Marissa Wynne.
Hibiscus Memories by Lismore writer Bette Guy, directed by Meg Rowe stars Joan Rodd, Hugo Grisco, Amanda Lieber, Jack Gow and Cameron Ellis. “Hibiscus leaves saved Rosa’s husband in a Japanese POW camp. Now her son wants to chop down their hibiscus hedge. How can Rose beat him at his own game?”
Margaret Bowen’s Normal – directed by Liane Norman – is an absurdist comedy about love, family… and a blow up doll. It stars Steven McGrath, Brooke Doherty, Brennan Muhoberac and Alison Meredith.
1000 Mile High Club is a comedy about a less-than-immaculate conception on the first commercial flight into space. By Christopher Welldon, dir Sam Genocchio, it stars Pat Booker, Bianca Bradey, Kerrie Gee & Ted Crosby.
The Closet is a kooky satire on kid’s TV where ‘censored’ toys scheme to get out of the closet and prove their ‘family values’. Written by Aoise Stratford, it’s directed by Heath Wilder and stars Kevin Curley as Bar Sponge Round Trousers, Anthony Hunt as Bernard the Dinosaur and Simone Oliver as Twinkle the Teletubby!
Meanwhile at Newtown Theatre from Wednesday, Crush by Kate Toon and directed by Catherine Hollyman sees Alex (Niki Simpson) as the perfect PA to Don Christopher’s CEO. Except she wants to lick him and bite him and rip off his underwear with her teeth!
Among other highlights at Newtown Theatre is The Petrified Book written and directed by Carol Dance and starring Sandy Kerr. This comic piece about unpacking love and loss is filled with irony and provocations.
WILDCARDS
One-off Wildcard plays on Sat 13 at 3pm at the NIDA Parade Playhouse include # 7,707,304,491 by Tim Lethorn where a cell door’s mysterious opening begs questions for an amazed prisoner; A Gentleman Always Removes His Hat by Emma Moore (Best New Talent for Short Sweet Melbourne 2009); Recession by Uma Kali Shakti; Little Star by Stephen Nichols, where and astronaut prepares to leave his wife and infant child for 16 years; If Only There Were a Magic Pill by Bruce Daniel (using text entirely pulled from internet search engine results), the poetic Unfinished Business by Annaki Kissas; the quirky romantic What Now? by Rebecca Greensill, Froot by Marian Davis and It’s all the Rage by Carl Sorjeim, the winner of Short Sweet Melbourne 2009.
Upcoming highlights include Sydney premieres for Caryl Churchill’s Seven Jewish Children and Edward Albee’s brilliant The Sandbox. Plus the timely Taking a Bullet, a hilarious meeting between the very different bodyguards of Kevin Rudd and Barack Obama! ASIO: take note!
The full program of works for Short Sweet Theatre Sydney 2010 is published here
Top 100 NIDA Parade Playhouse Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm, Tickets $28/$24
Top 100 Newtown Theatre Wed-Sat 8.15pm, Sun 5.15pm Tickets $28/$24
Wildcards NIDA Parade Playhouse Sat 3pm Tickets $25/$22
Bookings for NIDA shows or 1300 795 012
Bookings for Newtown Theatre shows or 8507 3034
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