Short+Sweet 2012, QLD

Eleven years ago, Short+Sweet began in Sydney. Since then it has gone from strength to strength, spreading around Australia and then internationally (Auckland, Mumbai, Delhi, Singapore, Chennai, Malaysia). Now in its forth year in Brisbane, Short + Sweet is the world’s largest ten minute play festival.

This year’s festival has a lot to offer. There’s the whimsical On The Shelf, where a carrot, cauliflower and celery discuss their ultimate demise. If you prefer your theatre with a side of gore, then Horror Story, a cynical look at the genre, may be for you. For the romantic at heart there’s Meet Cute, where two people cross paths at an airport and lives are changed.

For the first time there are also two musicals – Scrub It, a musical about cleaners, and My Bathroom Musical. Crime more your style? Then one wildcard entry is Copstitutes! Professional Lovers, Amateur Detectives. There truly is something for everyone.

Not only does Short+Sweet offer audiences a plethora of pithy plays, but it also provides performers, directors, writers and independent theatre companies with a fabulous opportunity to hone their craft. The festival runs for two weeks, includes 29 plays and involves around 120 performers in total.

Week 1 has already come and gone with nine plays being presented at the Gold Coast Arts Centre from 1-4th August. The three plays from the Gold Coast going through to the Gala Final in Brisbane on Sunday 19th August are the following:

Judges Choice: Genevieve and the Bus Stop and It’s All Very Hush Hush.

People’s Choice: Horror Stories.

Another eleven plays will be presented in week 2 at The Loft at QUT Kelvin Grove from the 14^th-17^th of August. On Friday the 18^th, nine wild card plays will be performed at The Loft for one performance only. The top ten plays from all of these are then chosen to be performed on Saturday the 19^th at the Gala Final.

Whichever play wins the Short+Sweet Award for Best Play will then have the opportunity to be a part of Sydney Short+Sweet (or in another city, if it suits those involved better). Should it again be successful, it will have the opportunity to be performed internationally as well.

If you’re looking for a night of theatre in tasty, bite-sized pieces, don’t miss Short+Sweet.

To book tickets, visit gardenstheatre.qut.edu.au