If you thought theatre was all about long, serious plays, then think again. Much like fast food and T20 cricket, the 10-minute theatre format, or “quickie” theatre, that is popular abroad, is about to hit the capital soon. Entries are being accepted for the “Short+Sweet”, 10-minute play festival that has created ripples across Australia and Oceania.
To be held in IHC, Delhi and Gurgaon from November 11, the festival promises a variety of short and crisp plays. Speaking about the whirlwind format that keeps the audience on its toes, playwright and festival director of the first Short+Sweet Delhi, Alex Broun says, “Traditional theatre is like a five day Test match. Short+Sweet is the exciting, action packed fast paced T20 of theatre.”
And it seems Indian artistes too are looking forward to the succinct plays. “It’s certainly different, and can definitely work,” says Arka Mukhopadhyay, theatreperson. Talking about his take on an evening with a series of plays, he says, “In the end if you’re talking about a series of plays then it adds up to almost the same time span (as a long play).”
Known for his range of elaborate soliloquies like Ek Mulaqat Manto Se, and his 10-15 minutes long “clownets”, Ashwath Bhatt believes that content and presentation count in the final analysis.
“We have elaborate as well as short films and theatre. So, duration isn’t an issue, but what they show and how, would be all that matters,” says Ashwath.
Veteran theatre person Bubbles Sabharwal finds the concept interesting, and says, “People who believe in the form of art, like painters, potters, playwrights, etc, believe that there is a process to art. And this sounds more like a quicker way out in presenting a play, but will need fantastic actors to keep the audience involved.”