Dance, silent movement, spoken word, poetry and readings – they’re all genres that will be showcased on stage in a new theatre competition at Warners Bay Theatre later this month.
The Lake Macquarie One Act Play Festival will take place across two evenings, 24 and 25 February, and include short, sharp, original plays, each less than 30 minutes in length.
Playwrights, directors and actors from across the Hunter and further afield will have their talents put to the test, with an expert panel of judges deciding the winning entry.
Lake Macquarie City Council manager arts, culture and tourism Jacqui Hemsley said the festival would feature 10 short plays in total.
“The One Act Play Festival aims to share original stories written and submitted by local, national and international playwrights,” she said.
“In their own unique ways, each will explore a range of themes, from life and health to relationships and the environment.”
Festival producer Niz Jabour said each evening’s audience would help determine the winner.
“This is a collaboration between actors and writers to make a play together,” he said.
“It’s open genre so some of the performances are melodrama, some are poetry or readings, some might be dance or silent movement and others will be spoken word.”
Actor Rachael Mae Cook is among the local creatives set to feature in the festival, starring as the solo performer in It is ok to ask – about a woman who ends up in a wheelchair after an accident.
Cook said she wanted her performance, and the short play’s content, to be an inspiration for audiences.
“A tragedy did happen to her out of her control, but she’s made the best of it, and that’s a motivating and inspiring story to tell – to take your life and make the best of what you’ve got,” she said.
The festival features a $2500 prize pool, with awards for best actor, best play and best script.
Tickets are $30 for one evening or $50 for a two-night pass, with discounts for Lake Mac Arts members.
The One Act Play Festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.
For more stories like this:
- Hunter Valley Steamfest back on track
- PACC launches exciting 2023 season
- Newcastle Fringe boasts hottest tickets in town
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
