Press Release:
‘The biggest little theatre festival in the world’ completes the Covid-interrupted (but not defeated!) 2021 season with its semi-finals and Gala Performance & Awards Presentation over the weekend of 1 to 3 April. Over 30 plays are in contention for the top prizes including Best Script, Best Production, Best Direction, Festival Director’s Prize and the new Actors’ Circle (5 winners).
The Sydney-born but now ubiquitous international short theatre festivals’ Surry Hills home – the Tom Mann Theatre – will host the ‘Crew Cut’ Semifinal on Friday 1 April at 7.30pm; the People’s Choice Semifinal then follows on Saturday 2 April at 2pm; with the Judges’ Choice semifinal on Saturday night 2 April at 7.30pm. The best of all these will progress to the grand-final performances: the Judges’ final on Sunday 3 April at 2pm; and the Gala Performance and Awards Presentation Sunday 4 April at 6.00pm
Festival Director Nick Hardcastle (pictured above left) says 2021 was an incredibly difficult year for live theatre. “We had to reprogram the Festival on five different occasions due to lockdowns and new variants of COVID causing major health and safety concerns. However, as is the spirit of Short+Sweet from its 20 successful years and the wonderfully supportive community it has created – we stuck together and persevered. Now we’re so excited to finally share with our audience the very best plays of the year… that was!”
In Friday night’s Crew Cut semi-final, Buried Treasure, created by Jacqui Duncan and David Allsopp and starring Duncan with director James Brettell, is the story of siblings Natalie and Daniel, who were once inseparable, but now have drifted apart. With their grandmother now in aged care, they pack up the family home for sale – but is the long-dismissed story of money buried in the garden myth or truth… and will it bring them together or tear them apart forever?
Saturday evening’s People’s Choice semi includes the delightful Figgy by Tom Peach, directed by Dana Lowe. Figgy (Alice Furze) – having ‘lost’ both a fiancée and husband (misfortune? Carelessness??) – starts to embrace life as a single woman. Judgement Day by Katrina Samaras is directed by Clare Burgess. “You’re dead. It’s Judgement Day. Who would you want to speak in your defence?” With Sarah Marie Reynolds, Geoff Cordner, Elizabeth Newman, Patrick Wells and teenage Tahlia Ransley.
Featured plays in the Judges’ Choice semi include Sweet, She by Jeff Locker (US) – with Olivia Aleksoski and Shannon Ryan, directed by Tabatha Lionheart. The gorgeous romantic comedy of two women who touched pinkies… and fell in love! Plus Diary of Marilyn: Debbie Nielson stars in this self-devised monologue. Marilyn Monroe questions who she is in and out of the public light and if anyone – including herself – has the answers. Featuring real Monroe quotes.
Short+Sweet Semi-finals play Fri 1 to Sat 2 April at Tom Mann Auditorium 136 Chalmers St, Surry Hills.
Crew Cut Fri 7.30pm
People’s Choice Sat 2pm;
Judges’ Choice Sat 7.30pm.
Tickets: $27/$24/$17
Gala Finals: Sunday 3 April 2pm (Judges’ Final); 6pm (Gala Performance & Awards Presentation).
Tickets: $35/$30
Full program, information and bookings at www.shortandsweet.org/sydney
Download the great new StageCenta app for all Short+Sweet online bookings & digital voting here.
