MEDIA RELEASE 2 April 2012

Winners from Gala Final on 30 and 31 March at the Seymour Centre

Short+Sweet finished in a spectacular gala final awards night at the Seymour Centre’s York Theatre on Saturday, with two of the top two awards (best production and best actor) going to rookie actor Gabriel McCarthy.

A graduate of the Australian College of Theatre and Television (ACTT), his existential one-man physical tragi- comedy piece “Something to Be Done” – co-written with directed by Sepy Baghaei – was the runaway hit of the festival and clear favourite of the judges on the night.

Best script was Joanne’s Real World by Taylor Klas, Jamie Burgess and Cerise de Gelder – an all-Melbourne team. It’s a rhapsody of blues with raves about dole bludges and dreamers… Performed solo by Taylor Klas, she also picked up the best actress award for 2012.

Best New Talent award-winner Lyndall Johnston is a dancer who directed theatre for the first time with a Wildcard – The Black Velvet Glove, which reached the Wildcards Finals – and a Top 100 play – Knows His Onions. Said Festival Director Pete Malicki: “Both productions were fantastic and she worked very hard and professionally. As a totally inexperienced theatre director, she has the potential to do great things if she keeps up the hard work! ”

Best Director went to Keane Williams for his stunning two-hander From a Great Height (by Mark Konik) starring Glen Waterhouse & Jo Ford.

The Whiskey Bar – a musical short with a huge collaborating cast and crew – mostly from the Wesley Institute in Drummoyne – won the overall People’s Choice award.

Wildcards winner was the dramatic Save Me by US writer Joan Broadman , directed by Grace Kelly and starring experienced actors Neil Modra and Hendrick Elstein.

The full awards list is set out below and the entire program of finalists in the attached media release. Let me know if you want any pix in high res! All awards photos by Christina Pizzuti; production pix by Christina… or Kerry Fluhr.

FULL LIST OF AWARDS
Wildcards Winner: Save Me by Joan Broadman (USA), Director Grace Kelly, actors Neil Modra and Hendrick Elstein
Best Actor: Gabriel McCarthy (Something to be Done)
Best Actress: Taylor Klas (Joanne’s Real World) (from Melbourne)
Best New Talent: Lyndall Johnston (rookie director of both The Black Velvet Glove & Knows His Onions)
Best Script: Joanne’s Real World by Taylor Klas, Jamie Burgess and Cerise de Gelder (all Melbourne)
Best Director: Keane Williams for From a Great Height by Mark Konik, with Glen Waterhouse & Jo Ford
People’s Choice Award: The Whiskey Bar – Robert den Engelsman + huge cast (mostly students from the Wesley Institute in Drummoyne)
Best Production: Something To Be Done: Gabriel McCarthy actor, co-writer with Sepy Baghaei, director

Media: for more info, interviews, images etc, please contact Geoff Sirmai, Watchdog Communications
geoff@watchdog.com.au, geoff@shortandsweet.org or call 02 9345 0360 / mob. 0412 669 272

MEDIA RELEASE 28 FEB

Week 9 Highlights and Finalists Emerge…

Week 9 at Short+Sweet – Wed 29 Feb to Sun 4 March at the King Street Theatre in Newtown – has the moving to the manic this week… – Breast cancer and the connections between people; plus a prosthetic arm with a mind of its own – just some of the highlights!

This week, the Top 100 program reaches its penultimate stage before all the festival moves to Sidetrack Theatre Marrickville for the week of 13 March after which all finalists will be known.

Meanwhile, this week, BLUE ROCK, written and directed by Lisa Eisman, is about four women waiting in a room for the results of a biopsy. Each of them feels along… but then soon realise how connected they are. Internationally trained stage and screen actress (and creator of Through the Lines about women in WW1) Cheryl Ward stars with Candy Burgess, Phoebe Plasto & Dawn Mogey.

HANDY ANDY is a black comedy about a strange relationship between a man and his prosthetic arm. Andy is always getting Cameron into serious strife, but what can he do? He’s just so attached to the guy… Wayne Underwood directs Victorian John Tilbrook’s play starring Sarah Knowles and Dave Neville.

THE HOSTAGE, presented by southern Sydney Indian-Australian theatre group Abhinay School of Performing Arts, features the writer Shourya Nidhi with Carlos Sivalingam in a life & death struggle

Top 100, Week 9 at King Street Theatre (Formerly Newtown Theatre) Cnr King & Bray Sts
Wednesday Feb 29 to Sunday March 4
Wed to Sat at 8.00pm, Sun 5.15pm Tickets $30/25 Book 8019 0294 or www.shortandsweet.org/tickets

1. Bit of a Blow Writer: Lynn Lobban (USA) Director: Hendrik Elstein Cast: Kevin Blakey, Wendy Knight
A charming dark comedy of a loving couple in their dotage discussing adultery. And acting upon it…
2. Chingy Writer: Dona Parise Director: Michael McCrann ITC: Gingham Pants
3. Handy Andy Writer: John Tilbrook Director: Wayne Underwood
4. Hegels & Hallers Writer: Vera Levitskaya Director: Sasha Poznyak ITC: Amateur As Anything
5. I Thought I Liked Girls Writer: Nicole Pandolfo Director: Terry Meller
6. Only The Important News (Fast+Fresh Winner) Writer/Director: Jack Andrew-Kabilafkas
7. Romeo & Juliet: The Latter Years Writer: Jamie Feldman Director: Ron Hadley
8. The Aroma of Life and Love Writer/Director: Sandy Maestro
9. Blue Rock Writer/Director: Lisa Eismen ITC: spin theatre works
10. The Hostage Writer/director: Shourya Nidhi ITC: Abhinay School of Performing Arts

Media: for more info, interviews, images etc, please contact Geoff Sirmai, Watchdog Communications
geoff@watchdog.com.au, geoff@shortandsweet.org or call 02 9345 0360 / mob. 0412 669 272

MEDIA RELEASE 24 February 2012

Week 8 Highlights – Drugs, vampires, bludgers & a naked man!

Week 8 at Short+Sweet – Wed-Sun at the King Street Theatre in Newtown – has the gothic and glitzy to the bizarre this week… And most of it is hilarious!

In the top 100 main stage program is the hilarious BLEAKULA, literally the Dracula legend ‘revamped’! Peter Garrett’s daughter Emily continues her directorial success with Cerise de Gelder’s wacky piece starring Rob Sheens, Maria Niedzwiecka, Sara Gruber and Nadia Hamoud.

THE 90 SECOND PARTY is about drug use and partying and features Matthew Graham and Rachel Jackett, the original Newcastle-based cast who were runner up at Short+Sweet Newcastle with this play. Carl Young directs Christopher Harley’s play.

KNOWS HIS ONIONS by Penelope Grace is a funny look at what happens when a helpful shop assistance gives environmental buying advice to their customers! Lyndall Johnston directs Stuart Owen, Allanah Jarman and Lauren Crowe.

JOANNE’S REAL WORLD is a cabaret about a Centrelink worker who loathes the ‘dole-bludgers’ who come through her door. But are they any different from her? Taylor Klas and Kane Wheatley perform featuring the music of composer Emma McGeorge. An all-Melbourne team bringing this great piece to Sydney’s festival! 30 LOVE directed by Yannick Lawry stars Steven Tait and Stephanie Cowton. “All’s fair in love and war… as long as it’s evenly matched!”

In the Wildcard section, (Sat 3pm and Sun 1pm only) FATHER’S DAY is a dynamic satire about four men sharing a journey, trying to avoid the ‘sins of the father’… Sonny Clarke’s piece is directed by Bobby Romia with Clint Foster, Darren Pinks, Peter Millynn, Paul Hooper and Don Rogers.

THE NAKED MAN is Jill Lever’s play directed by Elizabeth Gibney. “It’s a typical Tuesday night at the family homestead when there’s an unexpected knock at the door. It’s a naked man!”
Wayne Underwood, Jenny Want, Ros Bilbe, Michael Brindley, Emma Campbell, Jane Wilkinson and Jesse Jongen star. DROWN THE BLACK DOG by Scott Grimley stars Alexander Shore as a young man caring for his alcoholic father (Leof Kingsford-Smith). With Elizabeth Gibson and directed by Armand de Saint-Salvy.

REVENGE OF THE ROLLING PIN stars Jeannie Gee and James Belfrage as a woman whose lawyer ex-husband is taking her to cleaners… that is until he tries to take her grandma’s rolling pin… Deliciously set up by the fact that the writer Tracy Richardson and director Nick Richardson are husband and wife! Plus HIT AND RUN – Lynne Baillie’s gripping drama around an apparent unapologetic confession of a fatal crime. Frances Etheridge, Ingrid Fulton and Geoff Jones are directed by Greg Eccleston.

The full week 8 program is on the following page and the season’s complete schedule of works for Short+Sweet Theatre Sydney 2012 and online booking is available at www.shortandsweet.org/sydney

Top 100, Week 8 at King Street Theatre (Formerly Newtown Theatre) Cnr King & Bray Sts
Wednesday Feb 8 to Sunday Feb 12
Wed to Sat at 8.00pm, Sun 5.15pm Tickets $30/25 Book 8019 0294 or www.shortandsweet.org/tickets

1. The Flowers Writer: Pete Malicki Director: Jacque Vickers Cast: Kit Bennett – Crash Test Drama Winner
Sam has a problem with death. It’s all around her. But it’s as evasive as it is ubiquitous. A play about the lighter side of death, suicide, marijuana, and trying to grow flowers.

2. 30 LOVE Writer: Terry McFadden (USA) Director: Yannick Lawry Cast: Steven Tait, Stephanie Cowton
Is all fair in love and war? How well matched is any couple these days? They say all good things come to an end… but let’s desist with the clichés and allow this game to play out.

3. Coke Writers: Duncan Driver & Duncan Ley (ACT) Director: Sarah Cross
Cast: Fiona Skelton (Actor One), Naomi Parszos (Actor Two)
The first three rows may get wet! What do actors really think about theatre? What happens when an actor finally loses their cool after years of pretentious and questionable theatre? Coke explores these issues through interactive and complex dialogue.

4. Drown the Black Dog Writer: Scott Grimley (NSW) Director: Armand de Saint-Salvy
Cast: Leof Kingsford-smith (Patrick the father), Alexander Shore (Michael the son), Elizabeth Gibson (therapist)
A young man struggles with the burden of having an alcoholic father.

5. Joanne’s Real World Writers: Taylor Klas, Jamie Burgess (VIC) Director: Walking Into Bars
Dramaturg: Cerise DeGelder Cast: Taylor Klas (Joanne), Melissa Hann (Accompanist) Composer: Emma McGeorge
Artistic Coordinator: Harry Patternoster ITC: Walking Into Bars
In Joanne’s world, everyone should have a job no matter how much they might hate it and following a dream is a waste of taxpayers’ money. Why should they be any different to her? But then again… maybe they’re not.

6. The 90 Second Party Writer: Christopher Harley (NSW) Director: Carl Young
Cast: Matthew Graham (Gary), Rachel Jackett (Lisa) Short+Sweet Newcastle Runner Up
After having one hit of Garys new party drug, Lisa finds herself craving more. How far will she go to have just one more party?

7. Bleakula
Writer: Cerise de Gelder (VIC) Director: Emily Garrett Cast: Rob Sheens (Reggie Spix), Maria Niedzwiecka (Raven Glumowski), Sara Gruber (Astonia), Nadia Hamoud (Count Bleakula)
What do you get when you cross a comedian with a Count? Laughter of course! Just be sure you save yourself for the right joke!

8. Double Exposure Writer: Russell Beedles (VIC) Director: Adrian Bitel
Cast: Veronica Carbajal (Sylvia), Alex Corley (Desmond), John Cross (Goran)
Desmond, a photographer, is visited by Sylvia, an aspiring actress, who asks for a portfolio of shorts. In the middle of the shoot they are disturbed by Sylvia’s friend Goran, who accuses Desmond of complicity in the death of Lucy, a young model.

9. God’s Will Writer and director: Garreth Cruikshank (NSW) Assistant Director: Susan Kennedy
Cast: Natalie Corry (Jenny), Michele-Antonio Mattiuzzi (Brett), Chris Miller (Gavin), William Jordan (Martin)
Dramaturg: Jerry Greenland Sound Design: William Jordan Kameleon Productions
A child’s birthday party becomes the battlefield for opposing world views, resulting in an existential crisis of biblical proportions.

Knows His Onions Writer: Penelope Grace (NSW) Director: Lyndall Johnston
Cast: Stuart Owen (young man), Allanah Jarman (old woman), Lauren Crowe (manager)
A comedic look at an extreme-green and vegan checkout operator working in a supermarket. Horrified by the junk filling people’s trolleys, this checkout worker is on a mission to save the planet! But what’s the cost?

text messages hurt more when you’re sitting at the airport Writer: Alex Broun (NSW)
Director: Kingsley Kingsley Cast: Michael Howlett (Kane), Sandra Riggs (Doris), Kingsley (Voiceover)
Text messages hurt more when you’re sitting at the airport.

Wildcards Week 8 – King St Theatre Saturday Feb 25 at 3pm and Sun Feb 26 at 1pm
1. …and no one knows what you’re about Writer: Craig McNulty Director: Sarah Foukas

2. Father’s Day (pictured) Writer: Sonny Clarke Director: Bobby Romia
With Clint Foster, Darren Pinks , Peter Millynn, Paul Hooper, Don Rogers

3. Five Chairs Writer: Matt Olsen Director: Sandy Maestro

4. Naming the City Writer: Annie Bilton Director: David Attrill

5. Over The Hill Writer: Felix Carlyle (NSW) Director: Felix Carlyle Cast: Keith McIlroy (Gerald), Kit Bennett (Monica), Debbie Smith (Sonja), Stewart Wauchop (Paul Kirkland) Mariposa Productions
A young pregnant woman finds her beloved grandfather who has wandered off from his retirement home to see in his last New Year’s Eve. “Over The Hill” adapts Alex Broun’s original 10-minute play “The First Fireworks” into a play-within-a-play of the same length.

6. Revenge of the Rolling Pin Writer: Tracy Richardson Director: Nick Richardson
With Jennie Gee and James Belfrage

7. The Emperor is Free Writer: Sasha Poznyak Director: Sasha Poznyak ITC: Amateur As Anything

8. The Hit And Run Writer: Lynne Baillie Director: Greg Eccleston with Frances Etheridge, Ingrid Fulton and Geoff Jones. A woman walks into a police station and confesses to a fatal hit and run. She claims the victim deserved to die. The detective is in charge of finding out what actually happened…

9. The Naked Man writer: Jill Lever (VIC)Director: Elizabeth Gibney Cast: Wayne Underwood, Jenny Wang, Ros Bilbe, Michael Brindley, Emma Campbell, Jane Wilkinson, and Jesse Jongen Fight Choreographer: Steph Cowton
A regular night at a family household erupts when a naked man appears at the front door.

10. To Let Writer: Peter Bloem Director: Sharlene Zeederberg

Wildcards Sat 3pm Tickets $25/22 Book 8019 0294 or www.shortandsweet.org

MEDIA RELEASE 15 February 2012

Week 7 Highlights – Pizza, propositions, tortured artists, fundamentalism, Hell and first dates…

First up in the Top 100 lineup is Matt Orchard’s “Pizza Delivery” which he directs and performs in along with Louise Wildman is about a Pizza boy who encounters a customer who makes an unusual proposition!

“Artemisia” by Robyn Cadwallader is directed by Heidi Lupprian and features both Darcie Irwin-Simpson and Courtney Bain as the artist Aremesia Gentileschi; the effect of her trial and torture on her art. A woman’s truth can cost her everything…

“Space” by Kaz Getts is about tidying up the house… but going to extremes! A satire on fundementalism in all things. Directed by Warren Bradey and starring Stefanie Funnell, Calib James and Kelly Allen Cannalire as ‘Mum’.

Craig Delahoy’s “Size Matters” presented by October Productions is a hilarious first date story… starring Kate Buchanan, Cameron Hughes and Jessica Bradley. Amanda has a few issues; unfortunately for Michael and Samantha it’s the wrong place and wrong time!

In the Wildcard program (Sat 3pm and Sun 1pm matinees only), Pet Envy by Camilla Maxwell (US) features two teenage actors who are also friends from birth: Coco Frohich and Lila Gottlieb. Ruth Fingret directs a play about how we can’t always get what we want.

Delayed by Josh Forward sees Alison Albany direct Calib James and Nic Verhoeven is a fascinating play that starts with a conversation on a train platform between a man and a woman in a bridal gown on the way to a costume party. Love, life, marriage and more…

The Prospect is about estranged brothers confronting each other over family issues. Hannah Olshansky directs Diab Metry and Michael Katchan in Eva Adderly’s play.

Small Government is Adelaide playwright Benjamin Brooker’s futuristic play where Celina McEwan directs Celeste Notley-Smith as a would be activist and Daniel Placido as the leader of the underground government. Will he let her in?

Rebel Hell – written and directed by James Hartley stars Jimi Elwell, David Hines and Brian Webb as three demon princes trying to escape Hell and teenage Elena Burger as the person who won’t let them!

The full week seven program and the season’s complete schedule of works for Short+Sweet Theatre Sydney 2012 and online booking is available at www.shortandsweet.org/sydney
Media: for more info, interviews, images etc, please contact Geoff Sirmai, Watchdog Communications
geoff@watchdog.com.au, geoff@shortandsweet.org or call 02 9345 0360 / mob. 0412 669 272

Top 100, Week 7 at King Street Theatre (Formerly Newtown Theatre) Cnr King & Bray Sts
Wednesday Feb 15 to Sunday Feb 19
Wed to Sat at 8.00pm, Sun 5.15pm Tickets $30/25 Book 8019 0294 or www.shortandsweet.org/tickets

Artemisia Writer: Robyn Cadwallader Director: Heidi Lupprian. Darcie Irwin-Simpson and Courtney Bain star.

Below the Moon Writer: Gregory Hardigan (USA) Director: Alicia Gonzalez Cast: Anthony White (Jerry), Brennan Muhoberac (Riff) Jerry, a monkey astronaut, explains space travel, love and the mysteries of the universe to his monkey son, Riff. Or he tries to.

Celebration of Life Writer: Sally Sutton (NZ) Director: Karly Pisano Cast: Georgie Edwards (Mum), Mairead Berne (Pam), Nathan Hitchins (Alfie), Paul Musumeci (Leo) Designer: Kelly Cameron A family comes together to celebrate a life – and learns a few things in the process.

Pizza Delivery Writer: Matt Orchard (NSW) Director: Matt Orchard Cast: Louise Wildman (Susan), Matt
Orchard (Ed) Newday Productions A pizza delivery boy is given an unusual proposition by one of his customers.

Rebel Hell Writer: James Hartley (NSW) Director: James Hartley Cast: David Hines (Mammon), Jimi Elwell
(Belphegor), Brian Webb (Asmodeus), Elena Burger (Lucifer) ITC: Upper Crass Productions Three demon
princes of Hell, Mammon, Belphegor, and Asmodeus, plot to rebel from Lucifer’s tyrannical regime.

Size Matters Writer: Craig Delahoy Director: Craig Delahoy State (writer): NSW ITC: October Productions

Space Writer: Kaz Getts Director: Warren Bradey State (writer): NSW ITC: RAPA Inc

The Scene He Threw Out in the End Writer: Christopher Morse (USA) Director: Jamie Oxenbould
Cast: Gerard Carroll (Charles Cavendish), Di Adams (Evelyn Cavendish), Katie Fitchett (Daphne)
The English countryside. 1940. All is not well in the drawing room of Charles and Evelyn Cavendish.
Few words spoken, but turbulent passions smouldering just below the surface are about to come to a head.

The Shadows Within Writer: Sonal Moore (NSW) Director: Lynden Jones Cast: Emma Harris (Rose), Alastair Buchanan (Alec), 11-year old Emmanuelle Mattana (Voice), Jake Kujian (Dr Cave) ITC: Aardvark Productions Seven years ago Rose tried to kill her husband. Today, she says she’s sane
enough to be released from hospital. But is she?

Would Man, Pose a Prologue Writer and director: Justin Buchta Director: Justin ITC: PLAGIARISE

Wildcards Week 7 – King St Theatre Saturday Feb 18 at 3pm and Sun Feb 19 at 1pm

1. Bumping Into Sara Writer: Kate Rotherham (VIC) Director: Imogen Dixon
2. Delayed Writer: Joshua Forward (NSW) Director: Alison Albany
3. Good Mourning Writer: David Fingret Director: David Fingret
4. Hello Writer: Ian Robinson Director: Sylvi Soe
5. I’m Carrying A Cat Writer: Bruce Shearer Director: Rose Cooper
6. Pet Envy Writer: Camilla Maxwell Director: Ruth Fingret
7. Rapunzel’s Etymology of Zero Writer: Katie May (USA) Director: Peter Lavelle
8. Rocky II and the Indian Bride Writer: Neena Badhwar Director: Aishveryaa Nidhi
9. Small Government Writer: Ben Brooker (SA) Director: Celina McEwen
10. The Prospect Writer: Eva Adderley (USA) Director: Hannah Olshansky

Wildcards Sat 3pm Tickets $25/22 Book 8019 0294 or www.shortandsweet.org

MEDIA RELEASE 7 February 2012

Week 6 Highlights – Rats, Romance and the Matrix in 10 mins!

Week 6 at Short+Sweet – Wed-Sun at the King Street Theatre in Newtown – has some wonderful romance, comedy, shocks aplenty… plus a rat!

Leading the way in the top 100 main stage program is the hilarious Matrix in Ten Minutes featuring Sam Jenkins and Jim Fishwick. Two stars of Theatresports challenge the clock as they put one bullet, 8 fight scenes and 40 brave characters on an epic journey for sleep!

V.D. by Pete Malicki sees Bridget Jones meet her match when she is invited on a Valentine’s Day date… Lisa Eisman directs Eliza St John. Winner of Best Comedy and Peoples’ Choice Award at Short+Sweet Brisbane 2011.

The Pond, scripted and directed by award-winning writer Con Nats, features Underbelly star Salvatore Coco and Roanna Dempsey in a drama about the two-step tango of relationships, home and children. Powerful stuff from an experienced team…

A Rat in a Hat, by Western Sydney’s Robert Armstrong, directed by Cristina Dio stars Samantha Roylance, Leo Domigan and Damian Hannan. Bickering couple Pat and Matt see a Rat. Enter exterminator Jehosophatt with a hammer to go ‘splat!’. But who is the rat? And who ends up flat?

DateNav – The modern dating game and one man’s quest to use advanced technology to gain an unfair advantage! Steven Tait directs Shiloh Blondel, Paul Musumeci and Yasmin Horner in Gary Dooley’s cautionary comedy.

Burnt Fingers by Kate McDowell sees two students experiment with a risky new career option; when they are implicated in a suspicious death, will Captain Hook and Tinker Bell get away with it?
Stephen Carnell appears in and directs Laura Viskovich and Maite Carvell for Bold Type Ink.

In the Wildcard program (Sat 3pm and Sun 1pm matinees only), Eugene F Raggio directs Ian Hart’s The Truth About Climate Change – a skirmish between a lecturer and a heckling baglady.
Mike Zarate and Marjorie Licett star. Vivian Tselios directs Timothy Hehir’s Clothes Maketh the Man, where William Maitland is a man whose strange experience makes him question existence!

The Tango Partner by Angie Farrow and directed by Brian Perrett stars Chantelle Goulevitch, Hendrik Elstein and Daniele Martineli is a play about sex, jealousy and perhaps murder… Belonging by Laurence Klavan is a four-hander directed by luca de Simon where a psychic finds her latest client might alter her own future… With Leanna Lumb, Sergei Kozul, Gerwin Wijaja and Diab Metry. Train Station by Sally Williams, is directed by Norah George and features Yvette McDonnell and Graham Yates. A couple’s late night meeting… A thriller guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your platform!

The full week five program is on the following page and the season’s complete schedule of works for Short+Sweet Theatre Sydney 2012 and online booking is available at: www.shortandsweet.org/sydney

Top 100, Week 6 at King Street Theatre (Formerly Newtown Theatre) Cnr King & Bray Sts
Wednesday Feb 8 to Sunday Feb 12
Wed to Sat at 8.00pm, Sun 5.15pm
Tickets $30/25 Book 8019 0294 or www.shortandsweet.org/tickets

1. A Rat in a Hat Writer: Robert Armstrong (NSW) Director: Cristina Dio With Samantha Roylance, Leo Domigan and Damian Hannan. A sexy comedy in rhyme – with rodents! ITC Actors Anonymous (anonymouse?)

2. A View of the Trees Writer: Mark Konik (ACT) Director: Julian Ramundi Cast: Dominic Witkop (James), Sally Dulson (Holly), Sandra Velini (Bev) An encounter between a visitor and patient brings unexpected results.

3. Burnt Fingers Writer: Kate McDowell (NSW) Director: Stephen Carnell Cast: Laura Viskovich, Maite Arriaga, Stephen Carnell ITC: Bold Type Two young women experiment with a new and risky career option. However, when this turns to ashes, they are left contemplating their future as they’re now implicated in a suspicious death.

4. DateNav Writer: Gary Dooley Director: Steve Tait State (writer): UK With Shiloh Blondel, Paul Musumeci and Yasmin Horner The dangerous world of modern dating and one’s man’s use of technology to gain an advantage!

5. Recalculating Writer: Eugenie Carabatsos (USA) Director: Wendy Buswell Cast: Gerard Hawkins (Harry ), Gina Cohen (Emma), Sophie Lepowic (Garmin) A road trip, a GPS and a relationship that has lost its way. Can Garmin, their trusted GPS, help Emma and Harry find their way home?

6. The Matrix in Ten Minutes Writer and director: Sam Jenkins (NSW) Cast: Sam Jenkins, Jim Fishwick
Once upon a time there were 8 fight scenes, 40 brave characters and 2 young comics on an epic journey for sleep!

7. The Narcoleptic Pillow Fight Writer: Alex Dremann (USA) Director: Victor Kline
Cast: Layla Estasy and Harry Tseng; AD: Katharine Kline Composer: Ashley Walker

8. The Pond Writer and director: Con Nats Actors Salvatore Coco & Roanna Dempsey
A thrilling relationship story. The two-step tango of home, children firm foundations…

9. V.D. Writer: Pete Malicki Director: Lisa Eismen starring Eliza St John
Bridget Jones meets her match when she gets invited out on a Valentine’s Day date…

Wildcards Week 5 – King St Theatre Saturday Feb 11 at 3pm and Sun Feb 12 at 1pm

Belonging Writer Laurence Klavan (USA) Director: Luca De Simone
Clothes Maketh The Man Writer: Tim Hehir (VIC) Director: Vivian Tselios Cast: William Maitland
A man’s strange experience makes question his own existence and changes his life forever!
Little Hands Writer: Julie Danilis Director: Julie Danilis
Tango Partner by Angie Farrow, Director Brian Perrett -
Starring Chantelle Goulevitch, Hendrik Elstein and
Daniele Martineli Sex, Jealousy and perhaps murder…
The Bit On The End Writer: Gordon Smith Director: Craig Delahoy
The Meaning of Life by John Head (VIC) Dir Luke Blair;
with William Jordan & Kristofer Stefanovski
The Ride Home Writer: Allan West (NSW) Director: Jessica Wallace
The Silence Writer: Connie Schindewolf (USA) Director: Zuzana Sevelova
The Truth About Climate Change by Ian Hart, Dir Eugene Raggio with Marjorie Licett & Mike Zarate
A skirmish between a guest lecturer and a heckling bag-lady. Politically incorrect warfare!
Train Station by Sally Williams, Dir Norah George Cast: Yvette Mc Donald and Graham Yates
A couple meet late at night on a deserted train station. Innocent,strange or sinister…?
Waning Shadows Writer: Sukhpreet Dhamoon Director: Ridwan Hassim Abhinay School of Performing Arts

Wildcards Sat 3pm Tickets $25/22 Book 8019 0294 or www.shortandsweet.org

MEDIA RELEASE 31st JAN 2012

Week 5 Highlights – diplomacy, love, war & puppies!

Week 5 at Short+Sweet – Wed-Sun at the King Street Theatre in Newtown – has some big surprises in store! Comedy, existential absurdism, romance, bureaucracy and puppies…

Leading the way in the top 100 main stage program is Bleeding Out by Martin Estridge. Daniel Dunlop directs Matthew Backer and Emily Cascarino in a powerful relationship play about life, death, love and loss.

Helen Back by South Australian writer Elena Carapetis features Albanian actress – now resident of Sydney – Arta Mucaj in the title role. Matthew Charleston and Colleen Cook also star along with actor-director veterans Gertraud Ingeborg and David Ritchie of Harlos Productions. Two diplomats from warring nations argue the fate of an astonishingly beautiful woman… With design by Aussie theatre legend Tony Youlden.

Venus in the Shower, written and directed by Vee Malnar (Rock Chikz), is a ‘steamy’ comedy about friendship, faulty taps and finding love. With Samantha Roylance, Robert Zavadszky and Clare Martin.

Light Button Draw Repeat is an existential, absurd comedy that will push your button! Karina Bracken and Lisa Hassens live in world where they must push a button whenever the light comes on. What will happen if they stop?? Glen Pead directs this play by US writer Earl T Roske.

Breeders is a charming comedy set outside a pet store where a demonstrator against puppy mills (Rebecca Clay) is confronted by one of the puppies up for sale (Henry Tseng). Pauline Kingsford-Smith directs.

If John Wayne and Bertolt Brecht had a love child it would be The Whiskey Bar! Robert den Engelsman directs his own play with a cast featuring students and graduates from the Wesley Institute in Drummoyne.

In the Wildcard program (Sat 3pm and Sun 1pm matinees only), Pamela Eagleson directs The Department by Sutherland Shire playwright Graham Yates. Luke Quinton, James Graham and Gerard Hawkins are three bureaucrats living the life of crawling, begging and back-stabbing their way to the top! The Studio by Adam Szudrich and directed by Philip John sees a man (Phil Kachoyan) come home to his pigsty of an apartment, an angry girlfriend (Michelle Neil) and newborn baby. The last thing he needs is bad news… Plus Action and Reaction directed by Andrew Warren Nicholls and starring Debbie Smith and Timothy Bennett

The full week five program is on the following page and the season’s complete schedule of works for Short+Sweet Theatre Sydney 2012 and online booking is available at www.shortandsweet.org/sydney

Top 100, Week 5 at King Street Theatre (Formerly Newtown Theatre) Cnr King & Bray Sts
Wednesday Feb 1 to Sunday Feb 5
Wed to Sat at 8.00pm, Sun 5.15pm Tickets $30/25 Book 8019 0294 or www.shortandsweet.org/tickets

1. The Whiskey Bar Writer: Robert den Engelsman with co-director Andrew Bollom Matriark Art Theatre
If John Wayne and Bertolt Brecht had a love child it would be The Whiskey Bar. This Western Musical, set in a steamy saloon orchestrated by ‘The Puppeteer’. This show is the tumble weed of Short+Sweet 2012.

2. Breeders Writer: Kevin Armento (USA) Director: Pauline Kingsford-Smith
Cast: Rebecca Clay (Flora), Harry Tseng (PUPPY)
A woman protesting puppy mills outside a pet store gets confronted by one of the puppies being sold inside.

3. Deal Writer: Written and directed by Peter Shelley (NSW) – his 10th for Short+Sweet
Cast: Nicholas Barkl (Fred Reid), Richard Mason (Harry Woods) ITC: Shadowland Productions
Fred awakens at the top of a hill to find himself tied up and with a gun held on him by Harry.

4. Bleeding Out Writer: Martin Estridge Director: Dan Dunlop

5. Helen Back Writer: Elena Carapetis (NSW) Directors: David Ritchie, Gertraud Ingeborg
Cast: Matthew Charleston (Man 1, a Trojan), Colleen Cook (Woman 1, a Trojan), David Ritchie (Man 2, a Greek), Arta Mucaj (Woman 2, a Greek), Gertraud Ingeborg (Helen of Troy)
Harlos Productions Pty Ltd Set/lighting designer: Tony Youlden
Two pairs of top-level diplomats, recently at war, meet to decide the fate of an astonishingly beautiful woman

6. Venus In The Shower Writer and director Vee Malnar (NSW)
Cast: Samantha Roylance, Robert Zavadszky, Clare Martin ITC: Rock Chikz
A steamy situation occurs when Ellen finds herself overly attracted to her distracted friend Harold, whose attention is drawn to an attractive neighbour with a broken tap.

7. Light Button Draw Repeat Writer: Earl T. Roske (USA) Director: Glen Pead
Cast: Karina Bracken (Tassa), Lisa Hanssens (Sinne) Tassa and Sinnes’s world is
Light Button Draw Repeat. Where are they? What are they doing? And why do they
do it? In under ten minutes these and other existential questions are posed.

8. Guilt of the Vaudevillian Writer: Ava Karuso Director: Oriana Panozzo

9. Speed Marrying Writer: Craig DeLancey (USA) Director: Lewis Scamozzi
Cast: Bendeguz Daniel Devenyi-Botos (Justice), Matthew Rose (Various), Solange Fauvet (Various)
9 characters, 10 minutes and a music montage… we give you: Speed Marrying!

10. The Most Lamentable Tale of Artemis Athol Writer: Adam McGurk (VIC) Director: Doug Montgomery (VIC)
Cast: Matthew Bolger-Hobson (Artemis), Nicholas Bendall (The Writer) ITC: Broken Mirror Productions
Artemis wants his life back, but is it still his to want? Ownership of a person’s life and the psychology of being.

Wildcards Week 5 – King St Theatre Saturday Feb 4 at 3pm and Sun Feb 5 at 1pm

1. Action and Reaction Writer: Joel Doty Director: Andrew Warren-Nicholls starring Debbie Smith and Timothy Bennett
2. Back to the Dream Writer: Roberta Rangel & Renata Reis, Dir: Roberta Rangel
3. Birds Do It, Bees Do It Writer: Sam Paine Director: Robert Brennen
4. I was 22 Writer: Dania Nour Director: Dania Nour
5. Save Me Writer: Joan Broadman Director: Grace Kelly
6. Something Awful, Something Beautiful by Ralphael Del Rosario (US) Director: Stella Karver
7. The Department by Graham Yates , dir: Pamela Eagleson with Luke Quinton,
James Graham and Gerard Hawkins
8. The Girl Who Could Fly Writer: Carmen Saarelaht Director: Roman Smoliakov
9. The Son of Man Writer: Ryan Pennington Director: Bruce Thurgood
10. The Studio by Adam Szudrich, Director: Philip John with Michelle Neil & Phil Kachoyan
Wildcards Sat 3pm Tickets $25/22 Book 8019 0294 or www.shortandsweet.org

MEDIA RELEASE 19th Jan 2012

Week 4 Highlights – Cheats, sisters, nativity play shenanigans, and some surprising friendships…

Week 4 at Short+Sweet – Wed-Sun at the King Street Theatre in Newtown – features another terrific selection of new short plays – most of them by Aussie playwrights.

Leading the way in the top 100 main stage program is a lovely play by veteran Short+Sweet playwright Gerry Greenland. Driving the Holden pits a troubled teen serving community service order against a cantankerous pensioner. An unlikely friendship? Allan Walpole directs Peter Carmody and Harley Connor.

Popular Aussie actor Lex Marinos (fresh from ABC-TV’s The Slap) directs Shackles by Gabriel McCarthy.
Sophia Scarpellino and Serena Weatherall are two sisters – fearful of the past and the future and at a crossroads as a looming family Christmas dinner approaches.

Point Break Theatre school (from Sydney’s Northern Beaches) presents ‘Tis the Season by Judy Judd-Sandwell. An amateur cast and their narcissistic director in a final rehearsal try to save a nativity play that is going pear-shaped! Ilya Levy, Tara Alagich, Ursula Paddon, Geo2rge Trippis, Paula Williams and Emily Connell

Let Me In by Mansoor Noor and Leela Vaghese sees Mike coming over to cheer up Pam. She won’t leave her apartment after being dumped. He realizes he will have to lock her out until she agrees to deal with her issues… face to face! Henrietta Stathopoulos directs Gabriella Florek, Brandon Lees and Rita McCormick.

Three’s a Crowd by Gary Stowe stars Hugo Grispo, Shannon Levin and Sharon Kennedy in a piece about the subtle art of feminine manipulation. Louise is meeting her lover when her husband makes an unexpected appearance! Nik Forster directs.

In the Wildcard program (Sat and Sun matinees only) Between a Rock and a Hard Place sees Barby and Geoff lost on a caving adventure in what should have been a ‘nice, romantic holiday’. Written by Kate Toon and directed by Heidi Lupprian, it stars David Villanti and Cara Quilkey.

Gardening by Nathan Tesler is directed by Uma Kali Shakti and stars Irving Gregory and Leigh Scott.
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Archie the starfish have a chance to talk to God. What will they ask him?
Idiots by Richard Graham is about a hold-up in a shop where nothing is as it seems!

Game On by Renee Boyer-Willisson sees three flat-mates, bored, broke and with nowhere to go, finding a novel way to amuse themselves on a Friday night… Kathryn Schuback directs RitaKhan Chen, Jacqui Livingston and Rebecca Wood.
Signatures is written and directed by and stars Sophie Donkin and Sarah Williamson. What happens when someone tries to cross the road to avoid someone seeking their signature… and their money!

Set in the hospital room of a hit-and-run victim, Second Chance asks how good people might behave in extreme circumstances. Written and directed by Paulene Turner with assistance from Andrew Cohen, it stars William Maher, Natalie Stathis, Steve Tait and Kim-Cuong Do.

The full week four program is on the following page and the season’s complete schedule of works for Short+Sweet Theatre Sydney 2012 and online booking is available at www.shortandsweet.org/sydney

Top 100, Week 4 at King Street Theatre (Formerly Newtown Theatre) Cnr King & Bray Sts
Wednesday January 25 to Sunday January 29
Wed to Sat at 8.00pm, Sun 5.15pm Tickets $30/25 Book 8019 0294 or www.shortandsweet.org/tickets

1. Shackles by Gabriel McCarthy (NSW) Director: Lex Marinos
Cast: Sophia Scarpellino (Louise), Serena Weatherall (Robin) ITC: Gabatwa Studios
Two sisters: revisiting their pasts, whilst a looming family Christmas dinner awaits. Their perspectives are sure to rearrange from this one encounter onwards.

2. Three’s a Crowd by Gary Stowe (NSW) Director: Nik Foster
Cast: Hugo Grispo (Warwick), Shannon Levin (Louis), Sharon Kennedy (Mrs Bartoli)
A clandestine meeting between a man and a woman takes an unexpected turn when her husband turns up to have a ‘word’ with her lover.

3. The Forgetting by Rod Ainsworth (Qld) Director: Amy Le Brocq

4. I’m falling through the sky by Georgie Edwards (NSW) Director: Jo-Anne Cahill
Cast: Gael Ballantyne (TBA), Tessa Coulter (TBA) ITC: Pudding and Pie Productions
A play exploring the complexities of a family in crisis. Kate has come to look after her Mum, Margaret. The task is challenging and confronting for both women.

5. ‘Tis the Season by Judy Judd-Sandwell (NSW) Director: Paul Winchester
Cast: George Trippis (Director), Ursula Paddon (The President), Ilya Levy (Mary), Tara Alagich (Joseph), Emily O’Connell (Wisewoman), Paula Williams (Wiseman) ITC: Point Break Drama Acting School
An amateur cast in a last minute rehearsal for a nativity play that’s gone pear-shaped, desperately tries to appease its narcissistic director.

6. Driving The Holden by Gerry Greenland (NSW) Director: Allan Walpole
Cast: Peter Carmody (Mr Kravic), Harley Connor (Eddie) ITC: GKA Productions
Young Eddie has been sentenced to 60 days Community Service as a home help to Mr Kravic. Eddie isn’t keen on the idea, and cantankerous old Mr Kravic doesn’t want him around. But then a 1969 Holden Monaro intervenes.

7. Like a House on Fire by Keith Gow (VIC) Director: David Attrill
Cast: Erin McMullen (Penny) Composer: Ashley Walker
Penny, the pyromaniac from Melbourne, wants you to sit down, listen and possibly laugh with her but don’t fucking judge her, okay?

8. Let Me In by Mansoor Noor & Leela Vaghese (QLD) Director: Henrietta Stathopoulos
Cast: Gabriella Florek (Pam), Brandon Lees (Mike), Rita McCormick (Mrs. Washington)
When Mike comes over to cheer up Pam, who won’t leave her apartment after being dumped, he has no choice but to trick her into vacating her apartment and locking her out until she decides to let him in, and deal with her issues face to face.

9. Dispatch by Kylie Farrugia & Tracey Dwyer (NSW) Director: John Wood
Cast: Peter Hoolihan (Amos), Kel White (Denny), Carl Gregory (Mort), Iain Aitchison (Warren), Cassandra Hart (Sal), Rachel Jackett (Dispatcher) ITC: Eye of Newt
Everyone has advice for the new recruit. But where do you turn for answers to the big questions?

10. The Atheist by Lizzy King (QLD) Director: John Da Conceicao
ITC: Somerset Mills Productions

Wildcards Week 4- King St Theatre Saturday Jan 28 at 3pm and Sun Jan 29 at 1pm

1. Between a Rock and a Hard Place Writer: Kate Toon (NSW) Director: Heidi Lupprian
2. Game On Writer: Renee Boyer-Willisson (NZ) Director: Kathryn Schuback
3. Gardening Writer: Nathan Tesler (NSW) Director: Uma Kali Shakti
4. Idiots Writer: Richard Graham (NSW) Director: Emily Garrett
5. Item on the News Writer: Beverley Lello (VIC) Director: Wendy Buswell
6. It’s Important Writer: Sean Gibney Director: Sean Gibney
7. Michael Buble hits rock bottom Writer: Lisa Nicole Kelaher (NSW) Director: Lisa Nicole Kelaher
8. Second Chance Writer: Paulene Turner (NSW) Director: Paulene Turner
9. Signatures Writers and directors: Sarah Williamson & Sophie Donkin (NSW)
10. Sociopaths don’t use commas Writer: M.E. Macdonald Director: Jacque Vickers
Wildcards Sat 3pm Tickets $25/22 Book 8019 0294 or www.shortandsweet.org