Short+Sweet Cabaret Opens Submissions

The cabaret version of the world's most successful showcase event, Short+Sweet, has been rejuvenated with the appointment of a new Festival Director and the launch of submissions for its 2010 season.
 
Short+Sweet Cabaret will be held at Chapel Off Chapel in Prahran from Thursday 18 to Sunday 28 November 2010 under the stewardship of new Festival Director Emma Clair Ford.
 
Outgoing Festival Director David Read started Short+Sweet Cabaret in 2008 after basing the concept on the successful Short+Sweet Theatre formula. Under the mentorship of Short+Sweet Artistic Director and Founder Mark Cleary, David led Short+Sweet Cabaret through its first two seasons, initially at The Butterfly Club in 2008 and then - requiring a larger venue to meet audience demand - at Chapel Off Chapel in 2009. "I'm proud of leaving the Festival in a safe pair of hands with Emma and look forward to experiencing the new level of excitement and creativity she will bring to the Festival."
 
Emma said "David has established an incredible forum in Short+Sweet Cabaret. I'm thrilled to be onboard as Festival Director in 2010, and can't wait to see what this year's applicants have in store."
 
SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN
To enter a submission, simply email a 100 word or less description of your 10 minute cabaret concept to emma@shortandsweet.org together with your name, telephone number and a list of any props, technical and musical accompaniment requirements.
 
Great prizes can be won and costs such as venue hire, technicians, ticketing, marketing and publicity are covered. Individuals or groups can apply.
 
Submissions close on Tuesday September 14th.
 
Festival Director, Emma Clair Ford, said "I encourage all forms of cabaret to apply and am particularly looking for fresh but well thought-out ideas."
 
"Aside from great prizes, Short+Sweet Cabaret provides a supportive and inspiring environment for artists to develop and showcase their latest work, without the stress of producing the work alone. It also acts as a launching pad to recognition and further opportunities."
 
Short+Sweet Cabaret is a participation festival with awards for 'Best Cabaret', 'Runner-up' and 'People's Choice'. Prizes go with each award, including
- A showcase performance to Australia's leading arts industry at the gala night of Short+Sweet Theatre on December 5th 2010
- free rehearsal hire at The Butterfly Club
- the opportunity to appear in the line-up of the 2011 Melbourne Cabaret Festival
 
Emma holds a BA in Music Theatre Performance (University of Ballarat) and has worked extensively as a performer throughout Australia, Asia and Europe. She is a founding member of Redroom Theatre Company, most recently working as resident director for their sell-out smash hit The Petticoat Soiree for the inaugural Melbourne Cabaret Festival. Emma is also resident director for The Candy Topps, as well as starring as the delightfully dry Kitty Fox.
 
Emma also has a background in costume design and creation, and has enjoyed working on the production side of various arts events. In 2009 she was curator of the cabaret program at Dogs Bar in St Kilda, and worked behind the scenes for Short+Sweet Dance and Short+Sweet Theatre. She made the progression to Assistant Festival Director for Short+Sweet Dance in 2010.
 
With a passion for cabaret, in 2009 Emma wrote and performed The Black Sea Express, and Stockholm, the latter winning her a place in the finals for the Short+Sweet Cabaret Festival. She is currently working on her next solo piece, Lila Gray, for Melbourne Fringe.
 
Short+Sweet is the largest ten-minute play festival in the world. Each year we showcase over 300 productions of ten-minute theatrical gems at festivals in almost all Australian Capital Cities and in Singapore, Malaysia, India and New Zealand. Our vision is simple - a more creative world ... ten minutes at a time.