Come July 2010, Short+Sweet Singapore returns with a distinctively new format that will sweep the audience off their feet! Now called Top 40, the selected plays each week will showcase a diverse range of characters, themes and stories to feed everyone’s taste buds, and best of all, in your own language.
Unlike the previous years, audiences can now expect to see 10 plays each week with each piece being performed in any of Singapore’s four main languages - English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. The best 10 plays would then selected by a panel of industry judges to be featured during the Gala Finals from 5 - 7 August, which will be held at The Esplanade. Organised by The Arts House, the entire Short+Sweet Top 40 will be held at the Old Parliament building this year, instead of different locations as in previous years.
Ms Nicole Stinton, Festival Director of Short+Sweet Singapore says: “We are very excited to introduce this new format as it will open up more windows for aspiring writers, directors and actors. To have the plays in various languages helps to integrate the festival at a whole new level by giving all Singaporeans a chance to explore of theatre. It will also help break the ice in building intercultural respect and understanding, crucial in this multi-cultural nation of ours.”
Mr Colin Goh, General Manager of The Arts House adds: “We look forward to seeing how this new format will enhance the standards of theatre and dance in Singapore. It also serves to extend and capture a larger group of audiences, which is essential to building a greater perception and compassion to languages beside our own.”
Short+Sweet Call for Entries and Registration is now opened from 26 February to 11 April. Writers can submit plays, directors apply to participate and actors to register for auditions.
Short+Sweet is an arts development platform that aims to give young writers, actors and directors an opportunity to showcase their talents and develop their profiles in the industry, whilst working with leading established Singaporean and international theatre artists.
(Source: The Arts House Website)