First act complete

The scripts are in and the judging has begun for the Matamata Short and Sweet Festival.

Last year the call went out for playwrights to enter scripts to be performed on stage as a 10-minute play.

Festival organiser and Matamata Dramatic Society member Colin Kemplen says 14 plays were submitted and now the four judges have the task of selecting the six that will be performed.

He says the society is delighted with the number of entries and high standard.

‘‘This is almost twice the number of entries that were entered for the last Short and Sweet Festival three years ago.

‘‘The judges have commented the plays feature a variety of unique ideas and it’s evident the playwrights have studied everyday situations and transformed them ready for the stage.

‘‘One of the judges told me that it’s quite a challenge selecting the very best of 14, 10-minute plays, but they are confident they’'ll come up with a consensus that will not only please a budding playwrights, but Matamata theatre goers when the festival goes on stage in June,’’ said Kemplen.

The playwrights use a pseudonym so the judges do not know who the writer is. There will be one winner who will receive a $200 prize and five runners-up receiving $100 each. Auditions will be held in April.