The magic of 10-minute theatre

“It is truly magical,” said Dean Taylor, director of the 10-minute play festival, soon to be held at the King’s Theatre in Annapolis Royal. “Audiences have loved the concept since we introduced it in 2007. We started with two performances but with attendance growing each year, a third performance was added for 2009.”

Taylor first suggested the unusual format, the only adult 10-minute theatre in Nova Scotia, as a way to entice more people to “give live theatre a chance.” The brevity of the plays, of which there are eight per performance, gives the audience a potpourri of theatre experiences, bite-sized servings to savour what live theatre is all about. “Ten-minute theatre has also been a great discoverer of latent talent in our area,” Taylor said. “The invitation to participate goes out to all – playwrights, directors, actors, technicians – professionals and wanabes alike - all are invited to try their hand at this new experience. And the response has given us a totally unexpected profusion of new voices in the theatre arts.”

The 2009 version of the 10-minute play festival will be held at the King’s Theatre in Annapolis Royal on Friday and Saturday, June 12 and 13, at 8 p.m. with a matinee on Sunday, June 14 at 2 p.m. Awards will be presented at the Sunday performance for the best and second best plays, as determined by Chris Shore, executive director of Theatre Nova Scotia. A People’s Choice Award winner will be determined by a vote of attendees at all three performances.

Tickets are $12 at the door, $10 advance, and $5 children. Taylor noted that some language may not be suitable for younger children.