Saturday, September 20, 2025

on the Coach House Stage

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

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

  • Show Poster

    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

  • Show Poster

    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

  • Show Poster

    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.

  • Show Poster

    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.

  • Show Poster

    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

  • Show Poster

    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

  • Show Poster

    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

  • Show Poster

    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.

  • Show Poster

    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.

  • Show Poster

    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.

  • Show Poster

    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

  • Show Poster

    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

  • Show Poster

    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

  • Show Poster

    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

  • Show Poster

    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

  • Show Poster

    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.

  • Show Poster

    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

  • Show Poster

    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

  • Show Poster

    Cyrano 2025: An Echboborg Romance

    by Amanda Tkaczyk

    Slam poetry re-imagining of Cyrano De Bergerac with AI-enabled love.

    Director: Amanda Tkaczyk
    Genre: Drama
    Setting: Present Day

  • Show Poster

    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

  • Show Poster

    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.