Emerging Playwright Shortlisted For Prestigious Australian Theatre Festival
'The Pickup' - Sean McIntyre's stunning debut script for the stage - is confirmed as a shortlisted entry for the inaugural Melbourne leg of the Short and Sweet Festival to be held in November 2005.
MELBOURNE, Australia (PRWEB) October 1, 2005 -- Sean McIntyre's stunning debut script for stage was today confirmed as a shortlisted entry for Australia's premier festival - Short and Sweet - to be held in Melbourne, November 2005.
Chosen from a record number of nearly 1000 entries, 'The Pickup' is one of only 113 scripts now one step closer to securing a much sought after opportunity to be performed at the prestigious Melbourne Arts Centre.
Short & Sweet Artistic Co-ordinator Mr Alex Broun said that not only did the number of entries outstrip previous levels, but the quality of entries was a quantum leap on previous years of Short & Sweet.
"This is probably the largest amount of plays ever entered into a ten minute play contest on the globe", said Broun. "It's probable that this is the highest standard of ten minute plays ever entered for any contest in history as well."
Plays in every style imaginable on every theme imaginable with casts ranging from 1 to 25 were submitted.
Mr McIntyre said that 'The Pickup' was the first script he had submitted to Short and Sweet.
"It's a huge achievement and one I'm very proud of", he said.
"Short and Sweet has created a niche that offers a very unique opportunity to writers to have their work seen", he said. "New voices can only strengthen our community and its culture - Short and Sweet is a fantastic vehicle through which these may grow and evolve".
"In addition it also is another chance to be stretched creatively in challenging new ways", said Mr McIntyre.
The playwright also noted that the festival was a magnificent opportunity for actors, directors and producers to meet writers and network with each other.
McIntyre said he strived to imbue 'The Pickup' with a resonance that would stimulate the actors, director and audience.
"My aim was to present an entertaining story with characters people could relate to. Given the feedback I've had so far I am really looking forward to seeing this piece performed," said Mr McIntyre.
Mr Broun said that each script had to pass through four rigorous rounds of assessment: Story, Theatricality, Maintaining Interest, Character and Dialogue.
Readers were experienced theatre professionals in Melbourne and Sydney drawn from every discipline: writers, actors, directors and dramaturges.
"By the final assessment stage, plays that averaged seven or over out of ten were then placed on our shortlist", said Mr Broun. "Congratulations to those who made the shortlist and good luck in the final selection process".
Arts Centre Program Manager (Theatre), Ms Carla Hartog, said these plays will now be read by Arts Centre staff before a final decision on those lucky plays to be produced will be announced in mid-October. All plays entered are still in the running for Short & Sweet Sydney 2006.
Plays shortlisted for Melbourne Short & Sweet are available on request.
ABOUT 'THE PICKUP'
Energetic, pacy and insightful, 'The Pickup' follows two friends on one last adventure as they hitchhike from Dublin to Belfast. It's a journey that will change their friendship forever.
Exploring the universal theme's of loss, friendship, change and the lonliness of being alone - 'The Pickup' will make you look at life in ways you never thought possible.
ABOUT SEAN McINTYRE
Based in Melbourne, Australia Sean McIntyre has been an active participant in Melbourne's thriving arts scene since 1998.
As well as acting, performing and singing in theatre, Sean has produced and written original songs, short stories, screenplays and pieces for the theatre.
Published in a variety of magazines and online environments both in Australia and overseas, Sean continues to write opinion editorials, essays and articles on industries such as the arts, banking & finance and tourism.
Regularly attending www.screenplaymelbourne.com.au, Sean is also a member of the Victorian Writers Centre and www.alliance.org.au.
Sean has also collaborated on and edited screenplays for both short and feature films; most notably for Australia's most exciting up and coming independant director / writer / producer: Matt Norman of The Actors Cafe (www.theactorscafe.com).
As script editor and 1st assistant director on Norman's debut short 'All The Kings Horses', Sean was part of a dedicated and hard working team that brought Norman his breakthrough international award.
Shown at the St Kilda Film Festival, 'All The Kings Horses' won Best Short Film at the 2004 Downunder festival. The team repeated this effort with Normans next short film 'Shank' which made selection in 2004 for 'The Best of the Rest' Tropfest tour (Australia's premier short film festival).
Sean also worked with Norman on his debut feature 'Shackle' as an uncredited script editor. Starring Kym Gyngell and Bert Newton, production commences in January 2006 in Ararat, Victoria.
ABOUT SHORT & SWEET
www.shortandsweet.org
Short & Sweet is the biggest ten-minute play theatre festival in the world and has helped launched the career of countless theatre professionals.
It is an annual competition where 10-minute plays are submitted from writers around Australia and the world, staged by some of Australia's top directors, actors and technical professionals.
Short & Sweet festivals will be held in Melbourne at the Arts Centre (Nov - Dec 2005) and in Sydney at the Seymour Centre and Newtown Theatre (Feb - March 2006).
All plays that are submitted for Short & Sweet are considered for both the Melbourne and Sydney festivals.
Each culminates in a gala finals performance where the 'top ten' plays will vie for awards including Best Overall Production, Best Drama / Comedy / Actor / Actress / Director, People's Choice Award and more. Prizes include cash and industry related opportunities.
Short & Sweet was conceived by Newtown Theatre (Sydney, Australia) in 2001.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sean McIntyre
Wise Words Media
ABN 60 363 406 503
M: 0011 61 0413 397 441
e: sean.mcintyre AT wisewords.com.au
Alex Broun
Artistic Co-ordinator
Short & Sweet
www.shortandsweet.org
Short & Sweet: About the Competition
http://www.theartscentre.net.au/whats-on_detail.aspx?view=67
ADDENDUM
Shortlisted plays for Melbourne Short & Sweet 2005 are available on request.
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