September 1, 2022
The long wait is almost over for the Nanango Theatre Company, the curtain will finally be rising on the Heritage NananGO PLAYfest on Friday night!
The inaugural PLAYFest competition was to be staged in August last year but was cancelled at the last minute due to the extension of a COVID-19 lockdown in Greater Brisbane.
Fortunately, things have been smoother this year for the richest competition on the south-east Queensland drama circuit …
Twelve plays will be competing for prizes over the three days of PLAYfest.
Doors open on Friday at 6:30pm at the Nanango Cultural Centre for the first of the night’s two comedies, “Speed Dating”, followed by “Dating Service”.
More plays will be performed on Saturday (from 2:00pm and 7:00pm) and Sunday (from 9:00am), including a new comedy by Toowoomba playwright Marianne Buchanan, “Red Dot”, which will be staged on Saturday afternoon.
PLAYfest convenor Jon Fearnley said each session would be followed by the adjudicators’ comments.
Prizes – including $1000 for the Best Play – will be awarded after the Sunday session and a barbecue lunch.
“Our adjudicators this year are Mark and Shirley Lucas from Excalibur Theatre, Caboolture,” Jon said.
“Mark is a seasoned actor and has written over 30 plays while Shirley is an award-winning actress and director. The dynamic couple are very much in demand on the south-east Queensland drama festival circuit.”
Jon said audiences could also have a role in the judging.
“Season ticket holders get to vote for the People’s Choice Best Play award, with the winning play taking home a bottle of Mumme French champagne, while one of the patrons who voted for the winning play will take home a second bottle of Mumme, chilled, of course!” he said
Jon said there had been a great variety of plays nominated, including dramas, ‘dramedy’ and comedies.
“They include two plays in the Youth category from Strike Theatre, North Lakes,” he said.
“It’s a real smorgasbord of theatre from Nanango, from Toowoomba to Bribie Island, and places in between.”
Prizes across the PLAYfest competition will be awarded for different genres, best acting performances, play direction and set design plus an award for the best new Australian script.
“We have had great support from local businesses but especially from our Heritage Community Branch who have sponsored the awards,” Jon said.
“While our prize money this year is the richest on the circuit, actors are also competing amongst their peers for awards, trophies and bragging rights in this our inaugural PLAYfest.
“The Nanango Kennel Club will be catering all weekend with hot food and drinks and there has been a great response from volunteers to help everyone enjoy their festival at the Nanango Cultural Centre.”
Tickets to watch the plays can be booked online but they’ll also be available at the door unless sold out. Session tickets are $10 and season tickets $30 (with the chance to take home the champagne).
Footnote: Nanango Theatre Company is on a roll. Last weekend they presented their “Phantom Of The Music Hall” theatre restaurant production at the Wondai Diggers Club and Proston Town Hall to sold-out audiences.
- Related article: Lockdown Cancels PLAYfest
