Short and Sweet festival is on again

The Short and Sweet festival at the Peninsula Theatre will be held again next year after the success of this year's inaugural event.

The weeklong festival of short plays will be held from July 23 to 27 and will feature local actors and directors and showcase the work of local playwrights.

Theatre marketing coordinator Ms Lisa Kelly said the festival is open to scripts submitted by writers who are current or past residents of the Central Coast.

"Last year was a huge success as we received over 40 scripts from local established playwrights, budding writers and drama groups," Ms Kelly said.

"There is no entry fee for the Festival, and the best play of the season will be entered into the Sydney Short and Sweet Festival in 2009."

The festival coordinator for the event is Ms Brenda Logan and assistant coordinator Ms Annie Bilton.

"Brenda has been involved in theatre for over 40 years in England, Fiji and Australia as an actor, director and teacher," Ms Kelly said.

"Brenda is also passionate about encouraging young people's interest and involvement in community theatre and is currently involved in helping set up an Entertainment Student Production Academy.

"This year Brenda was nominated for an Australia Day Community Award and also made it on the Significant Women of the Central Coast list.

"Brenda will be responsible for bringing together scripts, directors, actors, and technicians, prizes and sponsors for the Festival.

"Annie's theatre life spans more than three decades and continents, first as actor, then director, now playwright.

"Annie has created companies in Australia and Japan and since arriving in Australia in 1980 she has worked with various community companies."

From 1992 to 1997 Ms Bilton was the literary manager and in-house dramaturge for Sydney's Griffin Theatre at The Stables.

Ms Bilton has taught theatre and literature, run theatre workshops, adjudicated acting and playwriting festivals and worked extensively in multicultural theatre.

"Short and Sweet will shortly be calling for scripts and directors, so it is important that writers start working on their 10- minute plays for next year's Festival," Ms Kelly said.

"The script must be 10 minutes or less, can be written about anything and the style is up to you.

"You don't have to be an experienced writer... absolutely anyone can enter."

The closing date for script submissions is Friday, May16 next year.

For more information visit the Short and Sweet website at www.shortandsweet.org or contact Brenda Logan on 0419 256 530.

Press release, 21 Dec 2007 Lisa Kelly, Laycock Street Theatre