The world's biggest short play festival is back in Sydney!

Short+Sweet 2025 is a celebration of play writing and the creation of original theatre. Over 100 plays will feature in the span of 3 months, all competing for a spot in the Gala Finals where we award the best of the best.

The Shakespeare Short+Sweet week showcases plays with Shakespeare at the heart of the inspiration! This can be a character, a famous line, short excerpts [but not a 10 minute extract from an existing play!] 

HEAT 7 SHAKESPEARE PROGRAM  Hosted by Jo Bloom of "Come You Spirits"
Please note: This is not the running order.

ALAS, POOR MUMMY!
Written by William Duke / Directed by Bianca Watkins 
Starring: TBC
"He’s a veteran of the stage, a deranged mummy’s boy, and a little too obsessed with the castle guards - Prince Hamlet as you’ve never seen him before."

DON'T <BLANK> THE MESSENGER
Written & Directed by Emily Saint Smith
Starring: Celine Widjaya, Emily Saint Smith, Alishia Keane, Matt Giles, Willa King
"So many of Shakespeare's plays turn on the receipt of a message. But have you ever stopped to consider the plight of those tasked with delivering those messages?"

DYING FOR WILL
Written & Directed by Glynn Christian
Starring: Peter Gizariotis
"A man hangs for using Will's words to awaken Elizabethan London to a MEGA plot - to Make England Great Again. Gravely funny. Tragically punny. And true."

SHAKESPEARE'S HEROINES AT THE GYNECOLOGIST
Written by Chriselle Almeida / Directed by Rhiannon Jean
Starring: Ursula Dauenhauer, Anastasia Sekuloska, Genevieve Craig, Alexandra McIntosh
"Juliet, Ophelia and Lady Macbeth walk into a gynecologist's office...What if Shakespeare's most famous female characters met at a present-day OBGYN office? Manned (no pun intended) by Viola!"

SHAKESPEARE'S PUBLICITY SHOOT
Written by Trevor Dodd / Directed by Don Ferguson
Starring: Don Ferguson

SHAKESPEARE UPON TINDER
Written by Fran Bowick / Directed by David Berry
Starring: Chris Argirousis, Olivia Bartha & David Berry

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE FAIRY QUEEN
ITC: The Musketeers
Written by Helen Hopcroft / Directed by Tim Kent of Insight Acting
Starring: Willa King
"The Rise and Fall of the Fairy Queen tells the story of an older actress who desperately wants to be the star of her own show."

RAMI & MIRA
ITC: Romeo & Juliet Western Sydney
Written by Heather Tliege / Directed by Isabelle Nader
Starring: Julia Vosnakis & Ash Sakha
"Yallah! Fall in drama. Fall in love."

UNFAIR VERONA
ITC: Glassroom Company
Written by Jack Calver / Directed by Edward O'Leary 
Starring: Rhiannon Bryan, Finn Hoeugh-Guldberg & Isabel Vanhakartano
"'Let's be real – this play is not romantic at all. It is not the greatest love story of all time..."

WILL'S DRAMATURG
Written by Rich Rubin  / Directed by Stef Savanah
Starring: Tyler Cronan & Angelo Morton
"Shakespeare needs coaching on the art of play writing - who knew!"

Please be advised that some plays may include adult content
This festival is proudly partnered with TAFE NSW