Entries for Short + Sweet Melbourne 2008 at the Arts Centre are now closed!

Individual Entries for Short + Sweet Melbourne 2008 at the Arts Centre closed on 4 August - but there's still time if you belong to an Independent Ensemble! You have until 22 August to get in on the action.

* Anyone in Australia could enter!
* Your script could be performed at the Arts Centre 3 - 20 December 2008
* There's $20,000 in prizes and professional development opportunities to be won
* Your script has to be 10-minutes or less
* Entries closed 5pm, Monday 4 August 2008.
* Participation in Short + Sweet is on a voluntary basis
* Only plays from Australian based writers will be considered for Melbourne Short + Sweet 2008. However, plays from writers based outside Australia will be considered for Sydney and Brisbane Short + Sweet 2009

THE RULES
* The script has to be 10-minutes or less - so no stressing about the second act!
* You can write about anything - politics, dating, family, passion, monsters, zombies, religion… the list is endless
* The style is up to you - drama, comedy, tragedy, romance, thriller…(the only proviso, it must be a piece for the theatre!)
* You don't have to be an experienced writer - absolutely anyone can enter
* Other than the 10-minute form there's no theme for the competition - all we're looking for are the best scripts, no matter whether they are written by seasoned professionals or first time playwrights

WHAT YOU COULD GET
Should your script be selected for the competition it will be transformed into a production and performed at the Short + Sweet competition the Arts Centre, Fairfax Studio, from 3 - 20 December 2008.

The plays selected for the competition will be in the running to grab a share of $20,000 in cash prizes for Best Overall Production, Best Drama Writing, Best Comedy Writing, People's Choice and many others.

Those selected for Short + Sweet also have fantastic opportunities to hone skills; forge new or strengthen existing professional relationships; expand networks; open up future opportunities; and have their worked performed at the Arts Centre, Fairfax Studio. The Arts Centre also invites industry professionals such as media, casting agents, funding body representatives, artistic directors of major companies as well as independent theatre companies, to the performances. Participants also work with experienced administration and production professionals, while not needing to worry about all of the energy consuming work normally required for marketing and ticket sales.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Every script entered will be read and assessed by an industry panel of script assessors. Entrants will be notified of the short-listed script in October 2008. Theatre directors will select the script they want to direct from the short list and then cast their plays from the Short + Sweet auditions.

The works selected for the Short + Sweet competition will be performed at the Arts Centre, Fairfax Studio, from 3 - 20 December 2008. During the performances a judging panel and the audience will vote for their favourite works to determine who'll get to take their share from the $20,000 in cash prizes.

By entering Short + Sweet Melbourne 2008 your play will also be automatically considered for Short + Sweet Sydney and Brisbane 2009.

2008 CALL FOR ENTRIES DOCUMENTS

> Writer Assesment Process
> Terms and Conditions
> Suggested Script Format
> Top 10 pitfalls of 10-minute scripts
> What the Arts Centre offers participants

Short + Sweet™ was conceived by Mark Cleary, developed by Alex Broun and first produced at Newtown Theatre, Sydney.