Jump into the ‘Tropfest’ of theatre to taste and explore the very best of emerging and established artists from South East Queensland’s theatre and cabaret performers. The Short+Sweet Festival, now in it’s seventh year, is on again from 30 July to 8 August at The Arts Centre Gold Coast. Ticketing information is available at www.shortandsweet.org
A unique program of over 60 performances and over 250 artists presenting theatre, cabaret, and comedy, festival participants work towards gaining the coveted Festival titles, including Best Overall Production, Best Actor, Best Cabaret Artist and Audience Choice.
The full program is divided into seven strands made up of 5-10 works in a single line-up and each strand is attended by a panel of anonymous judges drawn from the local industry.
Festival Director Nathan Sibthorpe said the wonderful thing about this Festival is the opportunity for audiences to take a magical carpet ride through a wide variety of different acts…all in one night. It’s hard, it’s fast, it’s funny, sad, punchy and offers a myriad of theatre voices an opportunity to ‘strut their stuff’. In short – It’s Short+Sweet….
Nathan also said that the success of the Cabaret strand of the Festival with audiences has seen a sharp rise in the number of fresh, funny and poignant cabaret artists putting their works forward.
“The 2015 program is a wonderful mash-up of original comedy acts, new Australian drama, contemporary dance, musical songbook, biting satire, reckless parody, and even some cheeky burlesque!
Last year’s winners Dirty Sexy Politics are about to have their premiere season in the Queensland Cabaret Festival. Samuel Valentine is one half of Dirty Sexy Politics and this year in Short+Sweet, Sam presents a solo work, directed by Nigel Poulton – SLAYING THE TROLL – a physical performance exploring the culture of internet trolls.
DANCING WITH DINOSAURS is a cabaret that has already had a smash-hit season at La Mama in Melbourne. It also features the other half of DIRTY SEXY POLITICS (last year’s overall winner), Thomas Albert.
Other Festival Highlights include Audax Industria Ensemble, a new performance collective formed by a group of extraordinary QUT students that has been attracting a big following. They will be presenting their first devised work, RUMINATION.
Writing & performing a one-man show, local treasure Matthew Filkins presents INDEFATIGABLE… “a physically and mentally demanding performance” exploring violence and masculinity.
Lewis Treston recently returned from studying playwriting at NIDA, his work FAT/SNOB is a biting and shameless satire of Tinder culture and will be directed by local up-and-comer Danielle Carney (previously won Best Comedy in 2013)
Underground Productions, the theatre company run out of UQ, is entering four separate projects co-ordinated by Siobhan Batt. These include a Brisbane Play, two Gold Coast Plays and a Brisbane Cabaret Act, each with a separate team of artists.
After making it to the gala finals last year, Regan Lynch developed a cult following with his camp sci fi fantasy ORGASMA AND THE INTERGALACTIC SKY COCK. This year, he’s performing in THE RETROFUTURISTS – a cabaret about futuristic time travellers with a lust for 80’s pop music.
Then on the Gold Coast…
Jay Bloodsworth presents an original musical exploring depression and based on a true story… THE SUNFLOWER PUZZLE features elements of magical realism and an original score.
And the audience get involved in a form of a choose-your-own-adventure story with THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT, an interactive play asking the audience to make decisions for the characters.
“The Festival has so much to offer audiences in fantastic short, sharp bursts. At just 10-minutes a pop, Short+Sweet is perfect entertainment. Each night offers a real mixed bag of shows, and it’s very much a lucky dip. There’s really nothing else like it.”
For more information, visit www.shortandsweet.org
The Arts Centre Gold Coast
30 July – 8 August 2015
Tickets: www.theartscentregc.com.au
Presented by The Arts Centre Gold Coast and Short+Sweet Queensland
ABOUT SHORT+SWEET FESTIVAL
Short+Sweet is a global festival brand, presenting highly successful theatre, dance, cabaret and song (musical theatre) festivals around the world. It provides audiences with exciting and contemporary works that challenge and entertain.
Short+Sweet began as a small festival running 10-minute plays in Sydney, Australia, but over the past 12 years has grown into a global organisation.
Short+Sweet has made a significant impact on the Australian theatre landscape by developing new, original work with emerging artists and providing a platform for established artists to showcase their talents.
Short+Sweet’s mission is to build theatre-going audiences around the world. Current Short+Sweet locations in Australia include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle, Townsville, Gold Coast, Broken Hill, Dubbo and Central Coast NSW.
International festivals include India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Dubai, Singapore and United Arab Emirates, with planned expansion to China, New York and the United Kingdom.
