One Act Play Festival

1. Open to ages 10 and up. The Director and crew of Youth entries may be any age. Plays must be at least between 10-25 minutes in length and no longer than 25 minutes. Plays can be excerpts of full-length plays and performance rights are the responsibility of the performers group/school/theatre company.
   
   
2. Working with Children Checks are the responsibility of the company or the group and not the festival Producer or Lake Macquarie City Council.
   
   
3. Plays must be at least 10-25 minutes in length and no longer than 25 minutes. Plays can be excerpts of full-length plays and performance rights are the responsibility of the performers/group/school/theatre Company.
   
   
4. The entry fee is $25 per play. Fees are not refundable if the group cancels. Payment can be made at the meet and greet session on October 10, 2022, or through any Lake Macquarie library branch (EFTPOS only). Payment is only required once you have been advised your submission has been accepted into the festival.
   
   
5. The Festival Stage Manager and Technical Crew will be in complete charge of the stage and back-stage areas during the festival.  You agree to follow their directions as required.
   
   
6. Each group will be responsible for setting the stage for their play. Each group section will be allowed five (5) minutes to set and to strike. If more time is required, this will be negotiated as part of the program scheduling.
   
   
7. Where possible, each group will provide a lighting and sound operator/advisor who will be responsible for the technical direction of the production. At all times, the one act play stage manager of the group will oversee equipment operation. All script marking and cue sheet entries must be able to be read in low lighting.
   
   
8. Use of the stage prior to set-up is for sound and lighting checks only and is limited to 5 minutes. No rehearsing is permitted on the stage throughout the festival.
   
   
9. The house curtain will remain open during the performance of each one act play, closing during the interchange between acts only.
   
   
10. Once a session has begun, there will be no admittance within the stage area until the allotted time.
    
    
11. Where possible cast and crew of each play will be allowed to watch the other plays in the session in which they have performed. However, priority is given to paid ticket holders and there may not be seats available for cast and crew.

Meet your One Act Play Festival Producer, Niz Jabour

Niz Jabour is an independent artist, trained in theatre acting and stage directing as a holistic entity. He works as a playwright, performer and director in regional NSW including Full Throttle Theatre (Townsville), Jute Theatre (Cairns), La Boite Theatre and Queensland Theatre (Brisbane).

A CONDA award winner, Niz has been recognised nationally for his roles as Artistic Director of Newcastle Theatre Festival (2006), Artistic Director and Founder of Ommi Theatre (2000-22), Artistic Director of Full Throttle Theatre (2010-2015), Independent Artist at La Boite Theatre (2014-15) and Independent Artist at Queensland Theatre (2015-17).

Niz has developed a very detailed collaborative process rooted in contemporary arts. He has conceived many theatre productions including Rain Project - an ongoing collection of works that gather people from all life experiences (including refugees and migrants), through memories, oral narrative, feelings and stories about rain, relocated into new situations that speak to us all.

As researcher, he has continued to explore collaborative creative practice at Griffith University, James Cook University and has directed his performances at Newcastle University and Curtin University where he completed his PHD in 2013. 

Entries open - 18 July 2022

Entries close - 9 September 2022, 5pm

Accepted entries notified - First week of October 2022

Meet and greet - 10 October 6.30pm 

Dress rehearsals - 20 - 23 February 2023

Festival dates - 24 - 25 February 2023

Who can enter?
We encourage anyone to enter One Act Play, including independent theatre artists, writers, directors, school, TAFE or University students and theatre groups in the Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Hunter and Central Coast regions.

What should my play be about?
With no specific theme or category, your play can be about anything! The Festival Producer encourages you to find inspiration from your own life experiences. What are the themes in your life? How do you feel about the state of the world? We want your most authentic ideas, thoughts and feelings. All genres are welcome, from comedy to drama.

How long does my play need to be?
Plays must be between 10-25 minutes in length. Plays can be excerpts of full-length plays and performance rights are the responsibility of the performers group/school/theatre company.

What age do I need to be to enter?
Open to ages 10 and up. 

What is the cost to enter?
$25 for each play/group.
EFTPOS only - paid at the meet and greet session on the 10th of October.

What if I can’t come to the meet and greet on the 10^th of October?
Payment can be made at any Lake Macquarie Library branch, or at Warners Bay Theatre by appointment. Please let the Producer know if you need to arrange alternate payment.

Where will the festival be held?
Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba.

What if my entry isn't accepted?
All entrants will have an opportunity to develop their script with the help of the Producer. You will be invited to a free of charge workshop to produce an independent production in the near future. More details will be provided at the meet and greet session on the 10th of October.

For any submission enquiries, contact Niz Jabour. 
Email: kisstheatre0@gmail.com

For any other enquiries, contact Lake Macquarie Council's Theatres Team.
Email: theatres@lakemac.nsw.gov.au