{"id":323390,"date":"2022-09-01T23:00:43","date_gmt":"2022-09-01T13:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=323390"},"modified":"2022-09-02T22:15:58","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T12:15:58","slug":"playfest-ready-for-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2022\/09\/01\/playfest-ready-for-action\/","title":{"rendered":"PLAYfest Ready For Action!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nanango Theatre Company cast members after a recent rehearsal of “Dating Service” … from left, Kate McCormack, Neil Melville and Anne Davoren (Photo: NTC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Jon Fearnley with the trophy for Best Play and the season ticket prize (Photo: NTC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 1, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

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!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, things have been smoother this year for the richest competition on the south-east Queensland drama circuit …<\/p>\n

Twelve plays will be competing for prizes over the three days of PLAYfest.<\/p>\n

Doors open on Friday at 6:30pm at the Nanango Cultural Centre for the first of the night’s two comedies, “Speed Dating”,\u00a0 followed by “Dating Service”.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

PLAYfest convenor Jon Fearnley said each session would be followed by the adjudicators\u2019 comments.<\/p>\n

Prizes – including $1000 for the Best Play – will be awarded after the Sunday session and a barbecue lunch.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Our adjudicators this year are Mark and Shirley Lucas from Excalibur Theatre, Caboolture,” Jon said.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

Jon said audiences could also have a role in the judging.<\/p>\n

“Season ticket holders get to vote for the People\u2019s 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<\/p>\n

Jon said there had been a great variety of plays nominated, including dramas, ‘dramedy’ and comedies.<\/p>\n

“They include two plays in the Youth category from Strike Theatre, North Lakes,” he said.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s a real smorgasbord of theatre from Nanango, from Toowoomba to Bribie Island, and places in between.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“We have had great support from local businesses\u00a0 but especially from our Heritage Community Branch who have sponsored the awards,” Jon said.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

Tickets to watch the plays can be booked online<\/b><\/a> 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).<\/p>\n

Footnote: Nanango Theatre Company is on a roll. Last weekend they presented their \u201cPhantom Of The Music Hall\u201d theatre restaurant production at the Wondai Diggers Club and Proston Town Hall to sold-out audiences.<\/em><\/p>\n