About GRAF | Friday Night | Saturday

Saturday, September 20, 2025

on the Coach House Stage

🎟️ Get Tickets →

Ontario’s most exciting stage for short-form theatre—21 plays, 10 minutes each, all competing live in one dynamic day.

NOON

Block 1 →
2:00 PM

Block 2 →
4:00 PM

Block 3 →

About the 10-Minute Play Competition

Competitors present a stage-ready theatre production in front of a live audience, which is then scored by a panel of adjudicators. The three best theatre productions are awarded cash prizes.

Prizes

🥇Gold $1,000

🥈Silver $500

🥉Bronze $250

Block 1

NOON

Cats: Not the Musical

by Kate Racheter
Martin Maretzki as Paul
Kate Racheter as Susan
Ryan Perera as Watson
A day in the life of a couple that owns a cat. Not a musical.
Director: Jay Douglas
Genre: Comedy
Setting: Modern Apartment
Even After Everything

by Madison Farkas
Ryan M. Sero as Ryan
Allison Warwick as Allison
After the painful and confusing breakdown of her non-monogamous relationship, Allison spent a year wondering what went wrong. Now, Ryan finally tries to explain.
Director: Madison Farkas
Genre: Drama
Setting: Hamilton, present day
Masochism Tango

by Bruce Kane
Tina Sterling as Barbara
James Callaghan as Ted
Strangers meet, fall in love and fall out of love in a dance of adoration and rejection.
Director: Kim Di Lello
Genre: Comedy / Dance
Setting: A lone table in a night club.
Charity

by Julia Kollek
Natasha Fiorino as Jill
Tess Fairbridge as Sophie
Dean Rooney as Homeless Man
A fundraising session at a charity for the homeless takes an unexpected turn when an actual homeless person arrives unannounced.
Director: Julia Kollek
Genre: Drama/Satire
Setting: Present time at a charity office.
Pythonesque

by Greig Graham
Heather Marie Ashby as Pauline
Dan Anderson as Johnson
Quinn Attlebery as Sketch Player #1
Jack Stewart as Sketch Player #2
Two writers are developing a short play for the Grand River Arts Festival, inspired by Monty Python. Aiming to capture the troupe’s spirit without copying it, they brainstorm sketch ideas—ones we see unfold as though reading their minds—all while carefully dodging copyright issues.
Director: Greig Graham
Genre: Comedy
Setting: Present
M45

by Carlos Diaz
with Carlos Diaz, Ainsley Perras Diaz, and Felicia Valenti
A sci-fi dramedy that follows a family, and their misadventures from one galaxy to another, over the course of 400 years.
Director: Carlos Diaz
Genre: Dramedy
Setting: Earth, A space ship, Earth 2.0
She's Fine

by Karen Lee Boulton
Mary Pat McBride as Glenda
Jamie West as Paul
A brother and sister clash over how best to care for their aging mother, who’s still living at home but showing signs of advancing dementia. Glenda, who handles her daily needs, is deeply worried about her safety. With shared Power of Attorney, they must reach an agreement during the brother’s short visit from out of province.
Director: Karen Lee Boulton
Genre: Drama
Setting: On a summer afternoon at the sister's kitchen table.

Block 2

2PM

That Guy

by Kyla McCall
with Charles Lo Manto and Kyla McCall
In a very busy cafe, a gentleman approaches a woman & asks to share the table. He sits. She recognizes him as an actor; but doesn't know his name. He becomes upset because he believes he should be famous. She becomes angry with him because he doesn't realize how good he has it to have a career in the arts.
Director: Janine Heaven
Genre: Comedy & Drama
Setting: Modern day, afternoon, in a cafe.
Shackled to a Corpse

by Eric Goudie
Featuring players from the Grinder Productions ensemble
An ambitious candidate for higher office faces a vetting meeting unlike any he's ever had before. Is he willing to do whatever it takes to get elected, I mean, really, whatever it takes...?
Director: Mya Leworthy
Genre: Satire
Setting: A nondescript meeting room.
PROGNOSIS

by John Lawrence Reynolds
Charles Lo Manto as Dr. Mattina
Mark Collis as Dr. Callahan
Braden Worton as Patient
Em Nicholson as Nurse
A patient is being prepared for an emergency appendectomy. Everything proceeds smoothly until the surgeon and anesthetist arrive, locked in a furious argument – the surgeon accuses his colleague of seducing the surgeon’s wife. The two men engage in a vehement argument until a comment by the near-sedated patient resolves things in a surprising manner.
Director: John Lawrence Reynolds
Genre: Comedy
Setting: A hospital, today.
spilleHOLLE

by Natalia Bushnik & Kathleen Welch
Kathleen Welch as Perchta
Natalia Bushnik as Spilleholle
spilleHOLLE follows the life of Spilleholle and her mother, Perchta. Set in 1700's Bavaria, Spilleholle grows up isolated from the world around her, as her mother is known as the village witch. The more Perchta tries to control and teach her daughter, the more Spilleholle resists. As Spilleholle becomes a woman, she tries to break out on her own with devastating consequences. This story is inspired by the legend of ‘Perchta’, known sometimes as the ‘Christmas Witch’.
Director: Natalia Bushnik & Kathleen Welch
Genre: Dark Folklore, Drama, Horror
Setting: 18th Century Bavaria
Wednesday Trivia

by Cooper Bilton
with Drew Adkins and Dan Reale
Regularly scheduled trivia night goes south when the host gets an unexpected phone call.
Director: Cooper Bilton
Genre: Comedy
Setting: Brantford
I'll Never Let You Go

by Tristin Deveau
Matt White as 'Him'
Maria Colonescu as 'Her'
Originally written as part of the 2024 Un-Hinged Festival of Disturbing Theatre, "I'll Never Let You Go" is a dialog played out in two parts, exploring how two people can be speaking with each other, but having completely different conversations.
Director: Maria Colonescu
Genre: Drama
Setting: Contemporary, Anywhere
The End

by Heather Ashby & Catherine Camp-Paynter
Heather Ashby as Doris
Catherine Camp-Paynter as Ruth
Doris & Ruth (2 elderly ladies) visit a recently deceased friend.
Directors: Heather Ashby & Catherine Camp-Paynter
Genre: Comedy
Setting: A funeral parlour

Block 3

4PM

There Goes the Neighbourhood

by Wendy Oughtred
Carla Zabek as Ruth
Chris Reid as Jacob
When a new couple moves into a close knit neighbourhood, their alternative lifestyle threatens to disrupt relationships.
Director: Wendy Oughtred
Genre: Comedy
Setting: Present day
Bad Bishop

by Ken Pak
Thom Zimerle as Matthew
Ken Pak as Kyu
What’s a game of chess without secrets, lies, and betrayal? And what the hell is a bad bishop, anyway?
Director: Edmund Stapleton
Genre: Drama
Setting: Late summer, 2015 in a Port Dover cottage.
High Noon

by Aaron Macpherson
with Aaron Macpherson and Juan-Carlos Figueroa
In the Wild West of Brantford Ontario, two old rivals meet before taking the train into their uncertain future together.
Director: Aaron Macpherson
Genre: Comedy
Setting: A Train station in Brantford
Buzz

by Mark Steven Jensen
Catherine Camp-Paynter as Judy
Bruce Farley as Pete
A couple trying to get ready for bed are disturbed by a persistent fly in their bedroom.
Director: Catherine Camp-Paynter
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Setting: A bedroom, late at night
Cyrano 2025: An Echboborg Romance

by Amanda Tkaczyk
Coral Autumn Rose as Roxanne
Paul Clarke as Christian
Savhanna A. Rayne as Narrator
Slam poetry re-imagining of Cyrano De Bergerac with AI-enabled love.
Director: Amanda Tkaczyk
Genre: Drama
Setting: Present Day
911

by Trevor Copp
with Alma Sarai
A 911 call in the near future in which an operator isn't terribly helpful.
Director: Trevor Copp
Genre: Drama / Comedy
Setting: 10 years in the future, here
SOB

by Alexander Galant
with Christian Martyn and Carmen Gillespie
A young man unloads his past to his therapist as he tries to decide if he's going to his estranged mother's funeral or not.
Director: Alexander Galant
Genre: Drama
Setting: Yesterday afternoon in a therapist's office

The Artists Who Make It Happen

Meet the Organizing Committee

Steph Christiaens

Executive Producer & Adjudicator
Steph is a professional actress and has been performing for over 25 years all across southwestern Ontario. Aside from performing she produces, casts and AD's for Indy film and theatre. Steph is one of the co-creators of the 10-Minute Play Competition, and is excited to see it become Ontario’s premier short play competition.
Susan Dignan

Head Adjudicator
For over 50 years, Susan has been involved in every aspect of theatre production. In addition to loving having been a teacher of dramatic arts, Susan enjoys directing, polishing, and adjudication. Currently she is vice president of the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts Foundation.
Martin Smith

Founding Producer (In Memoriam)
Remembered for helping shape the heart and soul of the 10-Minute Play Competition. Martin’s vision, leadership, and encouragement inspired countless local theatre creators to participate, take creative risks, and produce bold, original work.
Jessica Hamilton

Head, Lighting Tech
Jessica Hamilton has dabbled in most aspects of the theatre including tech, writing, directing, and acting. Some of her most memorable projects were playing Becca in Rabbit Hole (PPT), Kate in The Taming of the Shrew (AMP), along with directing All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten and House for Sale (ICHTHYS). When she isn’t telling people “sorry I can’t, I have rehearsal” you can find Jessica trying to convince teenagers that they like math and working with the theatre kids at Pauline Johnson CVS.
Todd Lucek

Head, Sound Tech
Todd has been running sound for Paris Performers' Theatre since 2015's Love, Loss and What I Wore. Todd has also created soundscapes for Simcoe Little Theatre's production of Waiting For Godot, Cambridge Community Players' production of Emerge. Most recently, he ran sound for Hamilton Theatre Inc. production of the musical The Prom.
Wiktor Kulinski

Theatre & Performance Art Coordinator, GRAF Committee
Wiktor is Chair of Grand Culture, and co-creator of the 10-Minute Play Competition. He has formally studied playwriting, dramaturgy, and direction, and taught undergraduate students in Theatre and Performance Studies. He loves short theatre because it’s like a pressure cooker for incredible creativity.

FAQs

The 10-Minute Play Competition is a high-energy adjudicated showcase of original and adapted short plays, each 10 minutes or less. It brings together emerging and established theatre artists from across Ontario to compete for top honours. All plays are performed live before a public audience and a panel of adjudicators. At the end of the day, cash prizes are awarded to the top three productions based on artistic merit, execution, and audience impact.
Each block features 7 plays, performed consecutively without intermission.
Approximately 90 minutes, including transitions between plays.
Tickets can be purchased online via GuestList (link at the top and bottom of this page). You’ll also need to add a FREE DAY PASS for Saturday, September 20, to access the festival grounds and theatre area.
If tickets are still available, yes. However, blocks often sell out in advance, so we strongly recommend booking ahead.
We encourage all patrons to arrive at least 5 minutes before showtime. Latecomers may not be admitted, and unclaimed seats may be released to walk-up guests.
Content varies. While most plays are suitable for general audiences, some may explore mature themes. We encourage discretion for younger attendees.
No—seating is general admission within the Coach House. Arrive early to secure your preferred seat.
Yes. The Coach House is wheelchair accessible. If you have specific needs, please contact us in advance so we can assist.
Yes. Free parking is available on-site and in nearby lots. A shuttle service is available from overflow parking areas.
Absolutely! Each block features a different lineup of plays and we encourage you to see them all. Note: tickets must be purchased separately for each block.