Call to submit small plays

MEMBERS of Creswick Theatre Company are looking to take people’s shortform plays from stage to screen as part of an inaugural festival next year.

As part of their first-ever 12 Minute Play Festival, the group is calling out for entrants to submit their written works spanning a dozen minutes.

With the best entries to go from page to stage, company committee member and the festival’s organiser Kari O’Gorman said the initiative is aimed at giving more budding playwrights a voice.

“It’s to allow the community to get involved in a new way,” she said.

“We’ve often put on plays that are already written and scripted but this is to get people to think up something relevant to themselves.

“And for 12 minutes each, it gives us as the audience a good variety to hear from a wide range of people.”

Entries will be judged by a panel of about 10 people, with each play required to interpret the theme of “a colour”, whether it be in costuming, set design, or story.

Ms O’Gorman said the festival may expand into a two-day event depending on the number of successful entries.

“The stage over in Creswick is a small one so we’ll have to take that into account,” she said.

“We’re thinking of holding the festival the week after CresFest, so around mid-April.

“It’s going to be exciting for the writers to see their work up on stage and performed. It’ll be another opportunity as well for people to be involved as directors and actors.”

The featured plays will be grouped into a collection which will be available during the festival.

Entry is $5 per play, with submissions closing at 11.59pm on 3 November.

To express interest in submitting or attending, visit bit.ly/3BJryFg.