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Release 13 Dec 2006:
SHORT & SWEET 2007 is even sweeter
More brilliant new short plays this summer - and music too!
Short & Sweet, Australia's - and the world's - biggest short play festival last night launched its 2007 season at the Seymour Centre Sound Lounge.
And its 6th big season has plenty of surprises in store!
Artistic Coordinator Adam Gelin announced a programme 140 original short plays and 10 short musicals – none longer than 10 minutes – which will play at Newtown Theatre, Seymour Downstairs and Parade Playhouse at NIDA in parallel from 16 January to 18 February. Each theatre hosts a different programme of 10 plays each night for a week and the festival climaxes in a glittering Awards Night at Seymour's York Theatre on 23 Feb.
Plays have been selected from more than 1200 Australian and international entries (including 50 independent theatre companies) and each will be produced by a local creative team including Australian directors and actors. 100 directors have been selected; 150 actors will shortly be selected from the more than 400 who auditioned.
Short and Sweet has a Melbourne version (currently finishing a sell-out season at the Victorian Arts Centre), a high school version mid-year (“Fast and Fresh” – now in its 3rd year) as well as a touring ‘best of' production “Shorter & Sweeter” which recently sold out this year at the Singapore International Arts Festival and Sydney Opera House Studio.
The newest addition, Short, Sweet & Song is directed by NIDA teacher and performer Avigail Herman and will showcase the work of local musical theatre writers, composers and singer-actors. The week-long stream takes place 6-11 Feb at the NIDA Playhouse.
At a packed launch function Gelin promised the most varied and exciting programme yet featuring witty, absurd and ‘just plain silly' comedies, relationship dramas, twisted thrillers, and and ‘some jaw-dropping sex'. Last year most performances sold out and Short & Sweet 2007 would offer ‘the hottest tickets in town', he said.
The festival is the brainchild of Sydney writer/director Mark Cleary and is unarguably Australia's biggest annual showcase of theatre talent. As a platform for new writers, local Australian actors, directors and allied artists it has no equal!
More detailed information in separate documents (Season highlights, Directors&Writers, Short Sweet&Song details) and on-line at www.shortandsweet. org
SHORT & SWEET
Newtown Theatre, Corner Bray and King Streets Newtown
Jan 16 to Feb 18 Tues-Sat 8.15pm and Sundays 5.15; Plus Wildcards every Sat 3.15pm
Seymour Theatre Centre, Cnr Cleveland St & City Rd
Jan 24 to Feb 17 – Wed-Sat 8pm plus Sat matinee 3pm
Short, Sweet & Song, NIDA Playhouse, 215 Anzac Parade Kensington
Feb 6-11 Tues- Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm
All tickets $28 / $23 concession (Wildcards $24/21; & Song $28/24)
Gala Awards Final Friday 23 February at Seymour York Theatre 7.30pm (tickets $40/35)
Bookings Newtown Theatre on 1300 306 776 * Seymour Centre (02) 9351 7940 * & Song (Parade Playhouse) Ticketek www.ticketek. com.au 132 849