Short+Sweet Sydney 2007

Short & Sweet Sydney 2007

The Biggest Little Play Festival in the World www.shortandsweet.org

Short & Sweet Sydney 2007

Short & Sweet is the biggest short play festival in the world.

Each year, we gather emerging and established actors, writers and directors to present seasons of the best local and international ten-minute plays in Sydney (Newtown Theatre and Seymour Centre).

This year, for the first time, we have a company travelling from another country. The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, one of Asia’s premiere theatre schools, is sending a contingent of students and graduates from Singapore to take part.

In another recent first - the S&S Awards Night at the Arts Centre in Melbourne last month was videotaped by the Movie Network for airing on the Movie Extra channel in March.

The ten plays of the final will be shown, two at a time, as five 30 minute episodes with hosting by Josh Lawson and featuring commentary by Alex Dimitriades, Pia Miranda and Suzi Porter amongst others.

There’s also news for Shorter & Sweeter - the ‘Best Of ’ touring version of S&S - the program was successfully presented at Long Paddock late last year and has been accepted for a three-month five-state regional Australian Tour in early 2008.

Other S&S news includes the first truly international S&S festival to be presented in Singapore. The inaugural two-week festival will be at held in April/May 2007 at the NAFA Black Box with the Awards Night at the Esplanade Theatres by the Bay. Alex Broun will travel to Singapore as Artistic Director to guide the local crew in their first season.

With the addition of Singapore, Short & Sweet will become, to the best of our knowledge, the first ‘trans-national’ Theatre Festival in the world. Our plans for world domination (ten minutes at a time) continue apace with NZ (2007), the UK (2008) and USA (2008).

But wait there’s more... Or there will be...

Stay tuned.

The Movie Network also produces Project Greenlight, which gives budding filmmakers a chance to have a feature film fully funded and produced, a pretty astounding prize. This year they tossed a substantial sum of money into a pool to be divided amongst the writers, directors and performers of the Melbourne final.

Mark Cleary Artistic Director Short & Sweet

Also new for 2007 - the first Melbourne Fast & Fresh (S&S for 14-18 year olds) will be presented at St Martin’s Youth Theatre and the Fairfax Theatre (Arts Centre) in May under the guidance of Artistic Coordinator Miki Oikawa.

Photo by Brett Boardman

Previous Winners Lee Lewis Best Director 2004 On That Day Directing On That Day for Short and Sweet was a great way to begin 2004 and proved to be one of the highlights of that year for me. I had just finished the NIDA director’s course and was feeling my way into the theatre community in Sydney. The generosity of spirit and talent of the actors who worked to create the piece still moves me greatly, and I feel lucky to have gone on to work with some of them in other productions. It was a great beginning of a hectic couple of years working in all of the

Photo by Brett Boardman

independent theatres in Sydney with plays including Daniel Keene’s Half and Half, Caryl Churchill’s A Number and Mac Wellman’s 7 Blowjobs for B-Sharp, Gary Owen’s Drowned World and Alex Broun’s Vicious Streaks at the Darlinghurst Theatre, Keene’s The Share + The Hour Before My Brother Died and Matt Saville’s Kikia Te Poa at the Old Fitzroy, and Our Town at the New Theatre. I have been working with young actors and writers through the Department of Education’s Senior Drama Ensemble, Writers Onstage and the STC Young Playwrights Award and at both NIDA and Theatre Nepean (its closing a tremendous loss to actor training in Australia). I have been lucky enough to work as an Assistant Director, both at the STC on Rebecca Gilman’s play Boy Gets Girl and on my first opera in a Conservatorium production of Cosi Fan Tutte (Mozart was a great introduction to the art!).

Somewhere in there I went back to NIDA and completed my Masters in Directing under the tutelage of Aubrey Mellor and John McCallum. 2007 is bringing a change for me – I am only doing one independent production so there will be less rehearsal in my house. I will be working as an assistant a lot more, and will be directing Daniel Keene’s The Nightwatchman for Griffin and Don De Lillo’s Love-Lies-Bleeding for STC.

Photo by Geoff Sirmai

Shingo Usami Best Actor 2006

Samara Hersch Best New Talent 2006

Soon after Short & Sweet 2006, I did a Wayne Tunk’s play, The Subtle Art of Flirting, at Newtown Theatre. I’ve also got a good role in an ABC telemovie, Before Dawn, that will come out sometime this year, as well as a lead role in an independent feature film, Diary of a Broken Sun, that is currently in production.

They were all great but Short and Sweet was definitely the highlight of 2006 for me. I had an amazing experience and I sometimes feel like it was just a dream. Yes, I gave everything I had to my performances, but the reward was just tremendous and I am so grateful for it.

In 2007, I will be performing in Miss Saigon tour which will open in Melbourne in March.

A month after the finals of Short & Sweet 2006, I packed my bags and headed for New York City to complete my studies at the Atlantic Theatre Company, focusing on American writer and director David Mamet’s approach to ‘Practical Aesthetics’.

New York was a delightful and intense insight into the theatre world. Whilst away I received news that the one woman play I wrote Stolen – (which was a finalist and people’s choice award in Short and Sweet) had been successfully received in Brighton, England, where it was produced

by Nick Brice. So much so, they took the play to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as part of a morning of Bite Size plays. So off to Edinburgh I went and soaked up the wonderful joy of the festival and of course the excitement of sharing my work with an international community. Currently I am attempting to channel the eye opening experiences that overseas travel has offered me, as I continue to write.

Terry Serio Directed Kiss of the Alien in 2005

acting workshops at Oasis Youth Refuge and Actors Centre. Directed Short & Sweet web commercial - How long’s Yours? and directed part of Party Political (Political Satire) at Newtown Theatre. Hosted (with Nicole Da Silva) finals of Short & Sweet 2006 at Seymour Centre.

Cast Lexi Freiman in Kiss of the Alien and as a result of working with her, produced Safehouse, one of Lexi’s plays, for Griffin Searchlight at the Stables with Lee Lewis directing. Continue to work with Arky Michael whenever possible.

After Kiss of the Alien: Bones at the Darlinghurst, Summer Rain at STC, Home and Away (6 weeks), 7 Blowjobs for B-sharp, The Last Winter feature film (Acting Coach).

Currently in Keating! at Belvoir St playing Bob Hawke and John Howard!! Continuing STAGEFRIGHT Wednesday mornings 10am on Fbi 94.5fm (Interviews and Theatre Roundup), teaching at Screenwise and

Short & Sweet reawakened my delight in enthusiasm. I’d become a little jaded and the effort, desire and ability in this short play festival was inspirational. Mark Cleary’s vision and ideas are great and Liam Fraser, pulling it all together technically, was unbelievable.

I have worked with great casts and collaborators/conspirators in the last couple of years. I’ve been lucky.

Photo by Brett Boardman from B-Sharp production of 7 Blowjobs directed by Lee Lewis Character : Senator Bob

Message from the Minister Short and Sweet Festival—Sydney 2007 season Over the next five weeks theatre lovers will have the opportunity to attend an incredible choice of 140 ten minute plays at the Sydney Short and Sweet Festival.

The Festival is sure to be an unforgettable experience for audiences as well as a chance for some of Sydney’s best emerging and established directors, actors, playwrights and technical crews to showcase their theatre skills.

Short and Sweet was conceived by Mark Cleary and has gone from strength to strength after it was first presented at Newtown Theatre in 2002.

The Australian Government supports excellence in arts and culture through a variety of targeted arts programs and funding support. This support ensures that all Australians no matter where they live have access our diverse cultural life.

I wish the organisers and participants involved in presenting the Sydney 2007 Short and Sweet Festival all the very best for a successful season.

Rod Kemp Federal Minister for the Arts and Sport

A note from the Artistic Director of Short & Sweet For years now the title of the Short & Sweet has been somewhat ironic, especially the ‘shortness’ aspect.

While it’s true that the plays are still 10 minutes or less, the organisational side makes the festival a year-round undertaking.

and overseas. Her addition to the team has greatly increased the development of solid, long-range strategies that will broaden our ability to support the talented creative artists that make up the S&S family in Australia and beyond.

This year the playwriting competition opens in March, which leaves about two days between the end of one year and the start of the next.

Also enter, stage right, Frank Newman, the new General Manager and Co-Artistic Director of NewtownTheatre.

His imagination and inspiration are already hard at work transforming the venue (physically) and planning its approach to independent theatre (philosophically) for the coming years. And also welcome to Leigh Russell, our part-time Office Administrator for whom we would quickly like to remove the ‘part-time’ aspect of her job description.

When people ask “what are you doing on the weekend?” my standard response has been “Oh, when does the week actually ‘end’?”. But I’ve decided to stop using the phrase because it’s becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Truly, for S&S, the week never ends. Now, I’m not complaining (or is that more irony?). In fact as things have gotten bigger, in many ways they have gotten easier. And the big difference is that more people are now involved and shouldering parts of the multicoloured behemoth.

Adam Gelin stepped in when Alex Broun moved to Melbourne to head up S&S at the Arts Centre. We knew Adam had great potential - after all he won the Best New Talent Award in 2005 - but we thought his talent was as actor, writer and director. Who would have thought he’d also make a wonderful Artistic Coordinator.

Another notable addition over the last 12 months includes the appointment of Joanne Kee as Executive Director. Joanne brings enthusiasm, dedication and a rich experience as a senior arts manager in Australia

I’d also like to welcome our new Principal Sponsor The Movie Network. With special thanks to General Manager Peter Jenetsky for his vision and commitment to new Australian theatre (and television and movies).

And also a warm welcome back to our Major Sponsor, Nudie Foods (best juice in the known universe) in the persons of James Ajaka & Sally Draycott. It’s not often in the arts, or anywhere for that matter, you find such a wonderful ‘fit’ between sponsor and sponsored, as there is between our two organisations.

In addition I’d like to thanks Denise Roberts at Screenwise for her sponsorship and support.

Mark Cleary Artistic Director Short & Sweet

Message from the Shadow Minister I am delighted to express my support for the 2007 program of Short & Sweet.

Attending past seasons, I have seen the Festival grow to embody the vibrancy and dynamism of contemporary Australian theatre. Short & Sweet strips back the medium to its raw – and brief – essentials. In 10-minute bursts, the program brings the talents and resourcefulness of local writers, directors and actors to the fore.

As an incubator and launching pad for new talent, as well as a playground for more established artists, Short & Sweet deserves its description as the ‘Tropfest of Theatre’. Through an increasingly challenging time for the arts in Australia, the Festival has tripled in size, attracting submissions from around the nation and overseas.

Short & Sweet affirms some things we’ve known for a while; the importance of taking risks in the creative arts, the enthusiasm of the Australian public for innovative and bold productions, and the ability of local artists to achieve brilliance on a shoestring. It also tells us some things about the future, in particular what the arts could achieve with more sustainable support and breathing space to innovate. We might even turn a few 10minute gems into two-hour masterpieces.

I commend to you the 2007 program of Short & Sweet, and wish the Festival and its participants every success in pushing the boundaries of contemporary theatre in Australia.

Peter Garrett Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage and the Arts

A note from the Artistic Coordinator of Short & Sweet Welcome to Short & Sweet Sydney 2007!

around the magnitude of the task.

Our Festival this year proudly presents 140 plays.

That’s 140 writers, 140 directors and over 300 actors, all engaged in the creation of remarkable theatre. Can everyone feel the love in the room? Or is that my medication kicking in?

Thanks to Alan Miller (wearer of multiple hats), Hall ‘rock-steady’ Murray, Caroline Gage and Kelly Ukena (our stupendous stage managers), Leigh and Frieda in the office, and to Joanne, Geoff, Annie, Ryan and Susannah for their incredible enthusiasm and support.

Thanks also to all the folks at Newtown Theatre and Seymour Centre. Mark Cleary, aside from providing the opportunity for so many theatre people to practice what they love, was always ready to help steer the ship when my hand slipped from the rudder.

If you’re a long-standing theatergoer, you’re in for a treat.

If you’re a couch potato venturing into new territory, take heart: Short & Sweet is the closest thing to channel surfing you’ll ever see on stage. If you’ve been to Short & Sweet before, you already know what I mean.

You are about to watch ten plays, each ten minutes long (or less), and each carefully selected from over 1200 submissions. There were no restrictions on style, cast size, theme or topic. The only restriction was the time limit. As a result, Short & Sweet has more variety than an ice cream shop. Everything that theatre can be, in tiny little packages, awaits your pleasure.

Directors, Writers and Actors are too numerous to thank individually, but we couldn’t do it without any of them. There are also dozens of people behind the scenes, the crew, making this magic happen, and my thanks go to them, too. All of these people contribute their time, effort and energy, their love for creation, their passion, and the result is: Short & Sweet Sydney 2007.

Enjoy the show.

Short & Sweet is a melting pot. Theatre practitioners at all levels of experience have the opportunity to explore, experiment and exchange ideas with each other. Creative people cross-pollinating is one of the most exciting facets of Short & Sweet, and often the fruit continues to blossom well after the Festival is over.

I’ve been overseeing the Short & Sweet juggernaut in Sydney this year, and I couldn’t have done it without dedicated people around me. Firstly, I’d like to thank the irreplaceable Alex Broun, who was patient enough to answer my dumb questions as I got my head wrapped

Adam Gelin Artistic Coordinator Short & Sweet

Short & Sweet Sydney 2007 Top 90 Plays 911 Conspiracy - the Musical Written by Benito Di Fonzo (NSW) Directed by Olivia Ansell

Container Written by Craig Goddard (VIC) Directed by Con Nats

A Mother’s Love Written by Jackie Greenland (NSW) Directed by Alyson Standen Green Independent Theatre Company

Deathly Intervention Written by Annie Kurtz (VIC) Directed by Uma Kali-Shakti

A Quiet Table For Four Written by Philip Linsdell (VIC) Directed by Stephen Wallace Impulse Theatre A Time For Everything Written by Sonal Moore (NSW) Directed by Andrew James An Arrangement For Dinner Written by Lucy Antonia (NSW) Directed by Kerry Williams Actors Anonymous Asylum Poetry Written by Peter Mooney (NSW) Directed by Alison Johnson Australian Academy of Dramatic Arts Babies Written and Directed by Evin Donohoe (NSW) Scarlet Letter Believe Written by Tom Taylor (VIC) Directed by Emma Tuchin Black Dog, Pink Panther Written by Steven McGrath (NSW) Directed by John Benjamin Break It Written by Marina Zivkovic Kale (NSW) Directed by Bulbin Aykiran Caper Written by Natalie Lopes (NSW) Directed by Jenelle Pearce Punchbug Productions Character Development Written by John O’Carroll (VIC) Directed by Robyn McLean Charlie’s Window Written by Gina Schien (NSW) Directed by Alexandra Byron

Double Dana Written by Christina Costigan (VIC) Directed by Michael Block Echoes Written by Barry Lakeman (NZ) Directed by Alex Walker Eddie, Eddie’s Id, Eddie’s Ego and Every-eddie-else Directed by Cale Bain Impro Australia Fate’s Steady Hands Written and Directed by Alex Broun (VIC) New Mercury Theatre Fingertorn or Orpheus Unplugged Written by Steven Schiller (VIC) Directed by Andrew Mowatt Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Theatre Department (Singapore) Good Written by Patricia Cornelius (NSW) Directed by Fiona Hallenan Happy Endings Written by Chris Summers (VIC) Directed by Beejan Olfat Hit and Run Written by Kate Herbert (VIC) Directed by Daniel Aponte Prypchan Honour Written and Directed by Andrew Steel (NSW) Steelworks Hope Fades But The Duck Never Dies Written by Jane Miller (VIC) Directed by Felicity Nicol How To Make A Cornish Star Written by Suzannah Arnot (VIC) Directed by Frances Jankowski

Humpty Doo Tragedy Written by Kate Rice (WA) Directed by Jonathan Wald If it’s Tuesday, I Must Be Catholic Written and Directed by Catherine Cresswell (NSW) Bluegreen Media Is That In The Script?

Written by Robert Jenkins (NSW) Directed by James Balian

Paris In Hell Written by Wayne Tunks (NSW) Directed by Suz Mawer Tunks Productions Party Written by Russell Beedles (VIC) Directed by Gillian Levett Polyphonic Bonus Features Written by Shopfront Ensemble (NSW) Directed by Chris Ryan Shopfront

It Could Always Be Worse Written by Barnaby Hallam (NSW) Directed by Chris Hallam B&CTC

Rehab Written and Directed by Adele Vuko (NSW) Adele Jade Productions

Keeping Annabelle Written by Rachel Welch (UK) Directed by Neil Gooding

Roadkill Written by Rick Viede (NSW) Directed by Louise Fischer

Lighthouse Written by Noni Bousfield (VIC) Directed by John Kachoyan

Satin and Steel Written by Amanda Whittington (UK) Directed by Geoff Brokate

Listen Written by Miki Oikawa (VIC) Directed by Danielle O’Keefe

Sex With the Ex Written by Stephen Vagg (QLD) Directed by Byron Kaye Bunker Productions

Lobster Tales Written by Michael Stang (USA) Directed by Miki Oikawa Lost Souls Written by Gordon Smith (NSW) Directed by Barry Nielson RGP Productions Love Story 2007 Written by Anna Lall (VIC) Directed by Simon Baré Monster Porn Written by David Kemp (VIC) Directed by Mark Cleary Mule Written by Matthew Edgerton (NSW) Directed by Nicholas Papademetriou Epiphany Theatre Company Next Written by David Sharpe (NSW) Directed by Susie Hamers Workshop Theatre No Mess, No Fuss Written by Emma Butschek (NSW) Directed by Luke Finch Notification Written by Kenyon Brown (USA) Directed by Felicity Burke Paradise Can Written by Paula van Beek (VIC) Directed by Juliette Ferrier

Sexual Perversity in Prague Written by Toby Levins (NSW) Directed by Augusta Supple Eastside Productions Sleep Disorder Written and Directed by Ruth Bell (NSW) Roadtrain Productions Sleepless Night Written by Jonathan Gavin (NSW) Directed by Natalie Lopes Smart Pills Written by Gerry Greenland (NSW) Directed by Lauren Pfitzner Shaft Productions So? Written and Directed by Jade Ormiston & Clare Skinner (NSW) Winner of Fast & Fresh Sydney 2006 Stand Up The Boy Written by Lis Collins (VIC) Directed by Steven Matthews Sunday in the Park with Frank Written by Matthew Wilkie (UK) Directed by Jacinta Legge-Wilkinson Suspicious Minds Written by David Bulmer (NSW) Directed by Sam Haft Swinger Written by Con Nats (NSW) Directed by Kate Willard CoNats Comms

Talking at Odds Written by Bridgette Burton (VIC) Directed by Katie Gompertz Ten Minutes Written by Ron Elisha (VIC) Directed by Mark Matthews The Artist’s Point of View Written by Erika Stoffels (NSW) Directed by Ian Gompertz The Aussie Pride BBQ Written and Directed by Steven Hopley (NSW) The Central Coast Shakespeare Company The Blood on my Blade Written and Directed by Jon-Claire Lee (NSW) Sydney Talent Company The Diary Written by Mark Enders (QLD) Directed by Terry Meller The Entrée Was Death Written by Brett Danalake & Iain Triffitt (NSW) Directed by Brett Danalake Ferknerkle Productions The Fur Coat Written by HC Blake (UK) Directed by Costa Loucopoulos

Thrilling Hostage Melodrama At High Speeds With Pineapple Written by Adam Hadley (ACT) Directed by Stephanie Ward Tight Spot Written by Peter Shelley (NSW) Directed by Mark Matheson Together Written and Directed by Malcolm Frawley (NSW) Not Another Theatre Company Transactions Written by Scott McAteer (VIC) Directed by Victor Kline Travellers Written by Johnathon Woodroofe (VIC) Directed by James Searle Trench Written and Directed by David Bourke (NSW) Chinstroke Productions Upon The King’s Urging Written by Bradley Jelfs (NSW) Directed by Maia Horniak Ground Up Theatre

The Genius Room Written by Nicola Pearson (USA) Directed by Mabelle Reyes

Verbatim Written and Directed by Tom O’Sullivan (NSW) Fuzzbusters

The Getaway Written by M.E. Macdonald (NZ) Directed by Denise Roberts Screenwise

Veronica Written and Directed by Rachel Musgrove (NSW) Muzzie Productions

The Over-Examined Life Written by Michael Gottsche (NSW) Directed by Sara Browne

War Poems Written by Suzanne Hauser (NSW) Directed by David Attrill

The Physics of Jumping Written by Sally McDonald (QLD) Directed by Trisha Starrs

Wasting Time Written by Ian Bennie (NSW) Directed by Kate Coward

The Pursuit of Happiness Written by Angela Carey (NZ) Directed by Andrew Carlton

Way To Go Written by Peter Lewis (NSW) Directed by Nic Lewis Zarzov Brothers

The Salsa Lesson Written by Victor Kline (NSW) Directed by Roz Riley Factory Theatre Space

Welcome to Centrelink Hell Written by Ariane Campbell (NSW) Directed by Kirsty Kiloh

The Second Cuppa Written by Frank Davidson (NSW) Directed by Christine Greenough

Welcoming Party Written by Aaron Scully (NSW) Directed by Jared Houseman

The TV Chefs Written by Katy Carruthers & Stephen Carnell (NSW) Directed by Stephen Carnell Actors Anonymous

What the Bicycle Heard Written by Owen Esk (VIC) Directed by Morgan Healy

Top 90 plays correct at time of printing.

You Make Me Written by Alison Mann (VIC) Directed by Emily Calder

Festival Schedule

Top 90 Newtown Theatre Cnr King & Bray Streets 200 metres North of St Peters station Week 1 Jan 16 - Jan 21 Week 2 Jan 23 - Jan 28 Week 3 Jan 30 - Feb 4 Week 4 Feb 6 - Feb 11 Week 5 Feb 13 - Feb 18 Tue - Sat 8.15pm Sun 5.15pm Tickets $28/23 BOOKINGS: MCA TIX 1300 306 776 www.mca-tix.com

Top 90 Downstairs Seymour Centre Cnr City Rd & Cleveland St Week 2 Jan 24 - Jan 27 Week 3 Jan 31 - Feb 3 Week 4 Feb 7 - Feb 10 Week 5 Feb 14 - Feb 17 Wed - Sat 8pm Sat 3pm Tickets $28/$23 BOOKINGS: SEYMOUR 93517940

Short Sweet & Song Parade Playhouse 215 Anzac Pde, Kensington Week 4 Feb 6 - Feb 11 Tue - Sat 7.30pm Sat 2pm Sun 5pm Tickets $29.80/$25.80 (Ticket price includes GST and booking fee. Transaction fees apply)

BOOKINGS: TICKETEK 132849 www.ticketek.com.au

Wildcards Newtown Theatre Jan 20, 27, Feb 3, 10, 17 Sat 3.15pm Tickets $24/$21 BOOKINGS: MCA TIX 1300 306 776 www.mca-tix.com.au

Gala Final & Awards Night Seymour Centre (York Theatre) Fri Feb 23. 7.30pm. Tix $40/$35

Thank you to all the people who helped in the lead-up to the festival: Alison Richardson, Amanda Bishop, Amy Kersey, Andrea Keogh, Andrew James, Anna North, Annie Cossins, Ben Lucas, Bill Miller, Brett Danalake, Brigid O’Sullivan, Brinsley Marlay, Callum Metcalfe, Catherine Aisutullin, Christine Glatz, Cris Davidson, Daniel Shine, Darkside, David Simon, Elspeth Mackellar, Erin McMullen, Fiona Hallenan, Flavia Ojeda, Freida Snijders, Jane Simmons, John Haly, John Meyer, Joseph Jermey, Juliette Ferrier, Kate Quinn, Kath Perry, Katie Gompertz, Kaz Getts, Kim Knuckey, Kristi Anderson, Lisa Peers, Louise Fisher, Lucy Durack, Malcolm Frawley, Marc Kay, Matt Edgerton, Matt Foster, Matt Holmes, Megan Alston, Miki Oikawa, Naomi Lane, Natalie Lopes, Nathan Cureton, Nick Bolton, Nigel Uhbrien, Peta Scowcroft, Richard Mason, Ryan Hayward, Ryan Lee, Sandra Campbell, Sandy Culkoff, Sara Browne, Sara Groen, Sarah Oliver, Scott Ferguson, Sean O’Riordan, Shana Gelin, Stephen Carnell, Stephen Hopley, Stephen Vagg, Stuart Buckland, Suyan Ferguson, Tahnee Stroet, Tom O’Sullivan, Tony Weir, Tricia Ryan, Trisha Starrs, Tyson Salijevic, Verushka Taylor, Warren Bradey.

Production Crew Hall Murray Larry Kelly Tim Edmond

Production Manager Festival Lighting Designer Technical Manager / Lighting Operator Downstairs Seymour Centre Caroline Gage Stage Manager Downstairs Seymour Centre Kelly Ukena Stage Manager, Newtown Theatre Jennifer Hind Lighting Designer Newtown Theatre Matthew Schubach Lighting Designer Downstairs Seymour Centre

A note from the Artistic Director of Short Sweet & Song Hello & welcome to the inaugural season of Short Sweet & Song.

It is wonderful to be able to share a dream and so I thank you for coming along to support all the wonderful writers, creative teams, actors & musicians.

For many years in Australia there’s been a need to nurture the writing talents of the music theatre fraternity. It’s been an area of the creative arts that has been, for the most part, neglected.

It has been quite a significant effort putting the production together and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved, especially CODA Audio for coming on board with sound, NIDA for all its help and generosity and of course to the production teams behind each of the individual pieces.

Enter - Short Sweet & Song, a festival which compresses music theatre into a 10 minute format, allowing for 10 new musicals to be performed in a week!

For me it’s been a very exciting project - bringing together all the things I love about this business: creativity, talent, opportunity and generosity of spirit, all tied together with hard work and much love.

Finally I’m sure you’ll agree with me that tonight’s programme is as diverse & eclectic as is the world of Music Theatre, so I would invite you to sit back relax and enjoy Short Sweet & Song!

Warmest regards,

I believe Short Sweet & Song will provide an ongoing opportunity for composers, lyricists and librettists to create and present their work, and to have it selected and showcased on a professional stage by talented performers and creative teams. Along the way it will also provide a regular new music theatre event for audiences to enjoy.

Avigail Herman Artistic Director

Short Sweet & Song 2007 10 Minute Musicals Parade Playhouse 215 Anzac Pde, Kensington Feb 6 - Feb 11 Tue-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 5pm

Musicians Bev Kennedy Andy Davies Michael Galeazzi Andrew Bell

Musical Director Piano/Keyboard Drums/Percussion Acoustic/Electric Bass Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Technical Crew Mary Macrae Tania Kraus Matt Tunchon Daniel Ricketts

Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Lighting Designer/Operator Sound Designer/Operator

Thanks to Coda Audio

CODA AUDIO SERVICES PTY LTD Professional Sound

www.coda-audio.com.au

Short & Sweet is proudly sponsored by

Short & Sweet International Mark Cleary Artistic Director Joanne Kee Executive Director Geoff Sirmai Publicity and Promotion Watchdog Communications Leigh Russell OfďŹ ce Coordinator Frieda Snijders Marketing Intern Ron Cleaver Bookkeeper

2007 photographic support by Alexander J Hamilton www.stormrevolution.com

Thank you to Australia Council Peter Benedict Robert Love Gilbert Tobin Freehills Wesley Mission ACTT Shopfront Seymour Centre Tracey Crerar Photography Susannah Hart Meryl Rogers Les Currie Michael Easton

Julie Mullins Playbill Rob Lafreniere Van Hoang Carla Hartog Rob Gebert Louise Walsh Nick Bolton Alexander Weilsman Newtown Theatre Frank Newman General Manager Larry Kelly Technical Manager Morgan Healy Bar Manager

Gala Final Prizes supplied by Crumpler Roses Only Holiday Inn Potts Point Filmink FedEx Kinko’s Australis Kiama Blue Apartments

Venue Partners

Postal Address

PO BOX 462 Newtown NSW 2042 E info@shortandsweet.org T 9519 5081

Short & Sweet Sydney Adam Gelin Hall Murray Larry Kelly Ryan Lee Annie de Merindol Alan Miller Susannah Hart Alan Miller Frieda Snijders

www.shortandsweet.org Artistic Coordinator Production Manager Technical Manager Judges Coordinator Prize Coordinator Rehearsal Coordinator Programme Coordinator Literary & Actors Coordinator Comps Coordinator

Short & Sweet Melbourne Alex Broun

Artistic Coordinator

Short Sweet & Song Avigail Herman

www.shortandsweet.org Artistic Director

Short & Sweet Singapore Elina Yeo Lee Yew moon Paul Hannon

www.shortandsweet.org/singapore Senior Producer Artistic Coordinator Production Manager

Fast & Fresh Neil Gooding Miki Oikawa

www.fastandfresh.org Artistic Coordinator Sydney Artistic Coordinator Melbourne

Shorter & Sweeter Michael Huxley

Artistic Coordinator

Edge Productions - Board Mark Cleary Bruce Welch Richard Arnold Joanne Kee Bill Miller Greg Khoury Front Cover: Photo of Steven McGrath by Tracey Crerar Other photographs (mostly) by Geoff Sirmai

Newtown Theatre Open for 2007/2008 Submissions Call or email to submit a project to be considered for full length season, creative development support, rehearsal space, advice or assistance in getting your project off the ground.

New and innovative program of events in 2007 includes full seasons of independent theatre, late night festival program, cabaret, film, music, physical performance and comedy.

• Brand new foyer • Upgraded technical facilities • Cabaret stage • Education program Affordable rates for independent theatre makers & one-off gigs.

Check the website for more information

www.newtowntheatre.com.au

Cnr King & Bray Streets, Newtown 200m north of St Peters Station General Manager Frank Newman t 9519 5081 m 0408 629 658 e frank@newtowntheatre.com.au