With more than 20 plays submitted for this year’s Flash Festival at Peninsula Theatre, the top six have been chosen and will be presented over one big weekend from September 22-24.
The annual festival conducted by Woy Woy Little Theatre gives budding playwrights, directors and actors their chance to shine as the 20-minute original pieces by Central Coast writers take to the stage.
In Clear as Mud by Sally Bartley, Special Agent X has been given his secret mission, but is a bit iffy on the details.
Will he get his message in time?
Will he manage to liaise with his target?
The answer is as clear as mud as four characters work their way through a very risky business.
Featuring Bruce Hyland, Kat Lee, Michael Sheather and Caitren Sheather-Reid, the play is directed by Nicky Prescott.
The New Messiah of Woy Woy by Peter Rodgers is a play inspired by the playwright’s parents’ admiration for Spike Milligan and sees a young man setting out to light the way forward for his generation and save the world.
Director Gordon Crawford brings the piece to life through cast members Aine Lambert, Rebeka Kendall and Scott Larimore.
Rupert Rae’s Panic has been directed by Kelli Ward and features Angie Chase, Katrina Cook and Samara Dawson.
Three workmates have been thrown in at the deep end.
A catastrophe has befallen their leader who has disappeared.
They have 10 minutes to come up with some sort of public statement or everything they have worked on for years will come crashing down.
Is this their chance to shine?
Kicking off Act II is Not on the List by Jenna Arnold.
The Secretary of the Strata Committee is worried that one of the owners has not been seen for some time.
The Secretary is worried that something nefarious has happened.
Not wanting to involve the police, she turns to the company that manages the building security.
And there is no turning back.
Directed by Michael Sheather the play features Jake Cain-Roser, Vicki Sidoti and Kat Lee.
In The Commuter (by The Commuter), Sebastian Yule directs Jill Hummelstad, Samantha Young, Allison Spencer and Caitren Sheather-Reid as they take the audience on a train trip to the after-life.
On the long train journey, Prue is frustrated that every other passenger is allowed to disembark.
Charon is there to manage the various souls that come and go.
When Sam and Barry get to move on to their ever-after, Prue discovers she faces a different fate – one that Charon will relish.
The final play is Shedding Light, written and directed by Andrew Thomson.
Two couples meet for a nice dinner party.
Things are tense and just when dinner is served there is a power blackout.
Bedlam ensues with glasses breaking, hands on wrong partners, truths being discovered about the crossed relationships and flying food.
When the lights come back on decorum returns – kind of.
The plays will be presented for one weekend only at the Peninsula Theatre, Woy Woy, with all bookings to be made online at woywoylt.com.au
Terry Collins