Congratulations to the winning plays performed at the Geelong Short Play Festival 2025:

 

Out of Nowhere – Paul Bucci | Performed by Kaleidoscopic Void Theatre Group

Hydrangeas and Lilies – Belinda Donald | Performed by the Queenscliffe Lighthouse Theatre Group

Hear No Evil – Steve Brown | Performed by Geelong Repertory Theatre Company

Dippy Egg – Melina Bunting | Performed by the Queenscliffe Lighthouse Theatre Group

The Prodigal Daughter – Paloma Leon | Performed by Overflow Theatre

The Duffle Bag – Kim Rance | Performed by What’s On? Production Company

 

The inaugural Geelong Short Play Festival, held over three performances on November 7-8, proved a box office success for Geelong Writers.

From an idea brought to the attention of the Committee in March by member, Paul Bucci, the concept of a short play festival for Geelong developed rapidly as a dedicated working party planned and implemented script writing workshops, created a script writing competition, and recruited a panel of three respected judges to select a short-list of six plays for production. The competition was open to writers from the local region and attracted 39 eligible entries –
more than a dozen entries were rejected because they were from further afield, including the USA! Local theatre companies were approached to produce the six plays.

Script writers and performance award winners are pictured above: L to R: Paul Bucci, Cr Dr Stretch Kontelj (mayor, CoGG), Emma Langridge, Belle Donald, Steve Brown, Paul Watson, Kim Rance, Melina Bunting. (Paloma Leon was unable to be present for the final performance.)

 

PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS

Best Actor Award – Emma Langridge (for her solo performance in The Prodigal Daughter by Paloma Leon)

People’s Choice Award (donated by Cr Kontelj) – Hydrangeas and Lillies by Belle Donald

Best Production Award (donated by Jaymah Press) – Paul Watson for his direction of The Duffle Bag

Best Script Award – Kim Rance for The Duffle Bag.

The festival proved to be a very successful new venture for Geelong Writers. Geelong Writers greatly appreciated the following contributions:

  • the working party of Paul Bucci, Jennie Brown (MC for the festival), Paul Spinks, James Pratt and Guenter Sahr.
  • many thanks to our major sponsors Jaymah Press and Geelong Arts Centre.
  • the festival would not have been possible without the collaboration of the following theatre companies: Kaleidoscope Void Theatre Group, Queenscliffe Lighthouse Theatre Group Inc, Geelong Repertory Theatre Company, Overflow Theatre Company, and What On Productions.
  • thank you to the short-list selection panel: Jennie Brown, Heather Nimmo, Paul Watson,
  • thank you to our Best Script Award judge, Christine Croydon.
  • a big thank you to Chelsea Gibb for selecting the Best Actor and Best Production awards.
  • and thanks to Vaness Paech for assistance to the working party.

Sponsors: Geelong Arts Centre and Jaymah Press