Short and Sweet and Universal.

As the “Biggest Little Play Festival” in the world enters its second week on the Gold Coast, Coral Drouyn examines a theatrical phenomenon.

Somewhere in the world, even as I write, another Short and Sweet Festival is in preparation, or in full flight, or winding up. The phenomenon that started in Sydney in 2002 as the brain child of Mark Cleary is now a bonafide international festival and YES, there are people who follow Short and Sweet around the world (what a brilliant excuse for a looong holiday).

Short and Sweet is more than just a short play festival to promote new and original talent. It now has sub genres of Film and Cabaret, Dance and Voice - and even a category called Fast and Fresh for dancers under 21.

It doesn’t always go smoothly - I was part of Short and Sweet Melbourne in 2015 and it was fun but infuriating -but it is a unique form of theatre that deserves across the board support. And, at its core, it is a competition where professionals – and the public – award prizes for excellence.

The Gold Coast is best known for its sunshine and beaches and theme parks, but there’s a strong theatrical presence and the Gold Coast Arts Centre provides an outstanding variety of performance spaces. Small wonder then that Short and Sweet opened their NINTH year of Short + Sweet on the Gold Coast to great audience and critical acclaim - and this week there is a whole new programme of ten 10 minute plays, covering genres from tragedy, broad comedy, satire and pretty much everything in between.  These are mostly plays, often written by young people, with things they need to say. They’re a chance to see many artists in the early stages of their careers. It’s one of the greatest offshoots of the Festival around the world that it discovers, and gives a platform to, new talent and much of that talent goes on to great success in the years following. But don’t be surprised to see a few of our older generation in the mix. While the Gold Coast spent many years wearing the tag “God’s Waiting Room” there’s actually a strong community of older artists – many from our southern states, who have retired to warmer climes but still have their creative juices in tact and are looking for ways to express them. First and foremost Short + Sweet is about diversity in entertainment. And, if the hundred minutes of theatre is not enough for you, you can grab a glass of wine and make your way downstairs for the cabaret section of the festival, .and between Line-dancing Senior Citizen Elsie Titswobble, and the huge cast of the Star and Garter Show Tribute, you’re bound to find something to make you smile and tap your feet.

So who will be the breakout performers/writers/directors in this year’s Festival? Well, the jury is literally still out on that – but if you’re a theatre lover – or just fancy a night out, (The Arts café does a great pre-show dinner) you really need too see it for yourself.

Short + Sweet runs this week at the Gold Coast Arts Centre from 17^th-20^th August, 2017.