The 10-Minute Play Competition is a fast-paced, exciting theatre competition that is part of the annual Grand River Arts Festival at Glenhyrst in Brantford.
Programme
Saturday, September 21, 2024
NOON |
Block #2 2PM |
Block #3 4PM |
|---|---|---|
|
Salvation Road Valerie King Kriegspiel Maria Colonescu Good People Eric Goudie Sandwich Tommy Taylor The Interview Deb Dagenais |
Karma Valerie King The TS Play David Simpson The Strand That Beads You Troy Defour The Project Kate Racheter Polly's Island Nicole Smith |
Heard Mentality Allison Fradkin Coach Kingston Tells It Like It Is Cooper Bilton Time. Eliza Thomas Piece for the Year 1981 Julia Garlisi Dinner For One Catherine Camp-Paynter |
Block #1
NOON
Salvation Road
Author(s): Val King
Director(s): Val King
Genre: Comedy, Sci-fi
Setting: Present
When a young girl falls into a "sewer" she finds herself in a surreal situation as a recruitment potential for an elite, utopian society
Chris Sterling as man/Amell
Ashley Swerdon as Nikki
Cat Brugnano as Earl/Deepa
Val King as Olivia
Kriegspiel
Author(s): Maria Colonescu
Director(s): Maria Colonescu
Name of Company, Troupe or Organization: Aequilux Productions
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Setting: Present, anywhere with a small table
Married couple Alex and Chris have some decisions to make, and what better way than over a game of chess? As each piece is captured, more and more memories re-surface, bringing with them joy, sadness, and everything in between.
Jenn Weatherall as Chris
Maria Colonescu as Alex
Good People
Author(s): Eric Goudie
Director(s): Mya Leworthy
Name of Company, Troupe or Organization: Grinder Productions
Genre: Drama
Setting: Present. An outdoor, public space.
A widower arrives a few hours before a ceremony to install a statue honouring her late husband. A young woman shows up, carrying a can of red paint.
Julie Goudie as Nadia
Rachel Estok as Ariel
Sandwich
Author(s): Tommy Taylor
Director(s): Tommy Taylor
Genre: Sci-Fi Dramedy
Setting: The vast emptiness of space.
What's the right thing to say while drifting towards oblivion? In this touching cosmic comedy, experience the gripping journey of two astronauts as they struggle for connection while facing ultimate isolation in the void of space.
Tommy Taylor as Astronaut 1
Muneer Malik-Noor as Astronaut 2
The Interview
Author(s): Heather Kirk
Director(s): Deb Dagenais
Genre: Drama
Setting: Contemporary Office
A trans woman has been required to explain herself to an authority figure. Her story is very personal, and goes in an unexpected direction.
Heather Kirk as The Woman
Block #2
2PM
Karma
Author(s): Valerie King
Director(s): Valerie King
Genre: Drama
Setting: Park bench
Dustin, a wealthy businessman finds himself homeless following the nefarious efforts of his trusted friend and business partner. When he meets another homeless person, her good heart changes his perspective on life and they become fast friends. Karma arrives to save the day when Dustins former business partner walks by him in the park.
Chris Sterling as Kurt
Ashley Swerdon as Charis
Cat Brugnano as Dustin
The TS Play
Author(s): David Simpson
Director(s): Abbie Simpson
Name of Company, Troupe or Organization: Bond Street Players
Genre: Comedy-Drama
Setting: Alexandra Park, Brantford
A brief encounter in a Brantford park between a young girl inspired by Taylor Swift and other women artists and an older man who was in a band years ago with much different inspirations.
The Strand That Beads You
Author(s): Allison Fradkin
Director(s): Troy Defour
Genre: Comedy, Dramedy
Setting: Modern Day - Children's Camp
At a summer camp arts and crafts station, three children discuss and unearth the state of political affairs in the world.
The Project
Author(s): Kate Racheter
Director(s): Jay Douglas
Genre: Comedy
Setting: A Private School Science Fair
A couple visits their child's science fair and they are surprised by the disturbing subject matter their child has chosen to present. This leads to an intense argument about who is to blame and what to do next.
Kate Racheter as Mom
Jay Douglas as Dad
Polly’s Island
Author(s): Nicole Anna-Lynne Smith
Director(s): Michele Di Tomasso
Name of Company, Troupe or Organization: Rose Garden Productions Company
Genre: Drama
Setting: Late 1930's
The play Polly’s Island is a reenactment of the true and tragic love story between Christopher Plummer's Aunt Phyllis Abbott and her fiancée Sir William Walter Beatty, as described early in his 2008 autobiography, 'In Spite of Myself: A Memoir.' The play is set in 1930's Montreal in the dressing quarters of the family's home at Fort Frontenac that overlooks Lake Como (through the trees) towards his adopted Aunt Polly's summer home where he spent many summers as a boy with his mother Mary Elisabeth Abbott (Sir John Abbott's daughter,) and her sisters. The story is told from the perspective of Phyllis and her grandfather Sir John Abbott as they fuddle about getting ready for the wedding while struggling to deal with Phyllis' impending sense of doom that this is all just "too good to be true."
Nicole Anna-Lynne Smith as Phyllis Abbott
John Dibben as Sir John Abbott
Dale Brubacher-Cressman as Dr. William Walter Beatty
Block #3
4PM
Heard Mentality
Author(s): Allison Fradkin
Director(s): Anna Carter
Name of Company, Troupe or Organization: Paris Performers’ Theatre
Genre: Comedy
Setting: Modern Day
Heard Mentality by Allison Fradkin is a camp comedy and touching piece of theatre which gives a tender look at disability, dating and daring to put yourself out there.
Cheryl Brownell
Duncan Graham
Deanna Stevens
Coach Kingston Tells It Like It Is
Author(s): Mark Brownell
Director(s): Sue Miner & Mark Brownell
Name of Company, Troupe or Organization: Pea Green Theatre
Genre: Comedy
Setting: Brantford
In "Coach Kingston Tells It Like It Is", the coach educates a minor hockey dad on the importance of anger, hatred, loathing, giving 115% and the immortal soul.
Cooper Bilton as Coach Kingston
Tom Keat as Marty Macgougal
Adriano Reis as Marty Macgougal (Understudy)
Time.
Author(s): Eliza Thomas
Director(s): Eliza Thomas
Genre: Dark Comedy
Setting: Various Time, in an apartment
The timeless question of if you could travel to any time period, where would you go, is attempted to be answered.
Eliza Thomas as Eliza
Piece for the Year 1981
Author(s): Julia Garlisi
Director(s): Julia Garlisi
Choreographer(s): Julia Garlisi
Genre: Dance Theatre
Setting: Present day
Piece for the Year 1981 uses the haunting piano composition of Lepo Sumera to communicate a narrative of challenge and uncertainty. This solo dance is a journey to discover and accept personal identity and true authenticity. The struggle to embrace both the desirable and not so favourable parts of ourselves is constantly defined within this compelling piece. Though physical and technical by nature, this piece has a powerful portrayal of strength, defeat, and resilience. These themes unfold throughout the choreography and engage our thoughts about true acceptance and personal comfort.
Julia Garlisi as Dancer
Dinner for One
Author(s): Lauri Wylie
Director(s): Catherine Camp-Paynter & Bruce Farley
Genre: Comedy
Setting: Dining Room
Miss Sophie is throwing an annual dinner party for her four dearly departed friends. Loyal butler, James, struggles to do his best to ensure all (including the departed) have a good time. "Same procedure as every year, James."
Catherine Camp-Paynter as Miss Sophie
Bruce Farley as James
2023 Winners
BRONZE
A Boyfriend for Gwen
Aaron Macpherson
Percy finds himself in an interesting situation after moving into Jason's house when he learns there's something strange in the attic.
CAST
PERCY: Henry Oswald Peirson
JASON: Cooper Bilton
CREW
Sound: Aaron Macpherson
Genre: Comedy
Setting: Residential kitchen, present day
SILVER
Goodbye
Kate Racheter
A play about love and loss and the journey we must go through when mourning the people we love the most.
Genre: Drama
Setting: Modern, summer, funeral home
GOLD
The Stag Hunter
Trevor Copp
Dir. Robin Patterson
The hunt for a stag brings the hunter right to their brink.
Genre: Mime
Setting: A forest
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.
Actors and troupes interested in competing need to complete the application form to register their entry and submit their production for consideration.
Selected submissions will be invited to produce their play at the competition.
We are looking for a diverse array of genres, themes, formats, styles, and perspectives, so we encourage everyone to apply!
Prizes
🥇Gold $1,000
🥈Silver $500
🥉Bronze $250
Organizing Committee
Steph Christiaens
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.
Executive Director & Adjudicator
Susan Dignan
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.
Head Adjudicator
Marion Smith
For her swan-song, Marion looks back over 80 years of live theatre in England & Canada. She’s enjoyed working all aspects of live theatre, including sound, lights, props, costumes, and acting. Directing is what she enjoys most. She has training in Voice for the Live Stage, adjudication, dramaturgy, and stage management.
Distinguished Guest Adjudicator
Martin Smith
Martin is a local playwright, actor and director. His next project will be a Brantford performance of The Other Noise in March of 2025. He'll also be launching a Brant-based podcast in January of 2025. He is thrilled to be back working on the 10-Minute Play Competition once again.
Host & House Manager
Wiktor Kulinski
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.
Theatre Coordinator, GRAF Committee
Jessica Hamilton
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.
Head, Lighting Tech
Todd Lucek
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.
Head, Sound Tech