With a slew of celebrity judges – including Luke Jacobz, Martin Crewes, Rachael Beck, Jessica Rowe and Tony Bonner – the nine top 10 minute plays from 2020 showcased the imagination, talent and resilience of the Short+Sweet community to a sell-out crowd at the 2pm matinee. Then, later that evening, the ‘encore’ performance was followed by a glittering awards ceremony.
Two contrasting plays swept the pool of rich prizes on offer. Winning Best Play, Best Script and Best Director was the witty, mind-bending absurdist “Trapped” by Barry Wood, directed by Lachlan Mcwilliams and featuring Gemma-May Bowles and Yvonne Dallman (with a cameo from Don Ferguson as a very scary zombie!).
Picking up the audience vote People’s Choice award was the very moving “Rentals” by Gregory Hardigan, directed by Short+Sweet veteran Frank Leggett and starring Chris Price, Clayton Moss and Danny Barton as three fathers from different backgrounds, united by a single, shocking tragedy.
Bowles was awarded Best Actress and Moss Best Actor.
- The other plays featured were: Now We Are Ten written and directed by Frank Leggett with Miranda Michalowski as ‘Abigail’ who has decided to save her sister… and to hell with the consequences!
- Superposition (pictured right) by Clifford Keen and performed by Andrew Ramage & Lana Jean Hill.
- The End is Nighy by Frances Bowick, directed by Gina Cohen starring Steven Tait and Edric Hong.
- Love Me Tinder by Melinda Jensen, directed by Stephanie Reeves for Act IV Theatre Co: Jensen’s real tell-all, behind-the-scenes story of her digital dating life – complete with verbatim Tinder conversations! Featuring Jensen herself with David Hodgkins, Steve Stojcevski and Mark J Wilson.
- The Tea Party for Sad People by Cathy Friend directed by Jeremy Lowrencev for Ümbr Productions, with Zoe Arden, Tihana Vulcik, Julia Pennisi and Joss Chalmers.
- Mum’s the Word By John & Kay Longhurst, directed by Steven Tait with Ally O’Brien and Nathan Moss.
- Antisocial Media by Julie Barnett (UK), directed by Peter Gizariotis with David Loney & Cris Bocchi.
Short+Sweet 2021 week 1 opens this week with 9 all new short plays, then continues next week and beyond with two parallel streams – each named for an iconic Sydney beach!
Short+Sweet plays Thu-Sun to Aug 22 at the Tom Mann Auditorium 136 Chalmers Street, Surry Hills.
Information and bookings at www.shortandsweet.org/sydney
Download the great new StageCenta app for all Short+Sweet online bookings & digital voting here
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