The First Annual Theatre in The Wings Canadian National 10-Minute Play Festival

No one knows for sure how 10-minute plays became so popular. Some trace it back to the late 1980s when American playwrights David Mamet and John Patrick Shanley experimented with the format in order to broaden the reach of theatre beyond the traditional stage. Some believe it is an offshoot of events like the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival which has showcased plays of 15 minutes or less since its inception in 1975. In any case, the format caught on quickly, embraced by playwrights, actors, and directors eager to find an audience, as well as theatre companies looking to give their audiences a more diverse range of plays to consider. By the late 1990s, 10-minute play festivals began springing up all over the US, Europe, and Australia. In Canada, the Newmarket National 10-Minute Play Festival began in 2017 and ran annually until it was interrupted by COVID. While national and international 10-minute play festivals continue to flourish internationally, festivals in Canada have tended to focus on local plays by local playwrights. It’s been a great boon to new play development in this country.

Ottawa playwright, Guy Newsham, is at the forefront of the movement in Canada. He has had dozens of 10-minute plays produced at festivals throughout North America and Europe, winning numerous prestigious awards. After his plays “Skip” and “Alexa, The Liar” delighted Belleville audiences as part of the First Annual Summer Short Play Festival in 2023, he was invited back to facilitate a workshop on 10-minute plays for local playwrights at Theatre in The Wings this past February. While visiting Belleville, Newsham spoke of the need for a new national festival in Canada. He believed that the intimacy of the Belleville venue would make Theatre in The Wings an ideal host. It wasn’t long before the First Annual Theatre in The Wings Canadian National 10-Minute Play Festival became a reality.

With the support of the Playwrights’ Guild of Canada, a call for submissions went out. By the June 1 deadline, 168 submissions were received from across the country, many from some of Canada’s best-known and most successful playwrights. After anonymous judging by a panel of neutral judges, seven plays were chosen, cast, rehearsed, and eventually presented to warm and enthusiastic audiences for eight sold-out shows in August with the support of The City of Belleville and The Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board.

Happily, Guy Newsham’s play “Chute” was one of those plays, as was the world premiere of “Nothing to Get Hung About” by Belleville playwright Marc Coyle. Two plays by Toronto playwright Jessica Moss were chosen, “Celebrities in Space” and “Caleb and Rita”. Peterborough playwright Dave Carley provided the delightful play “On Beauty”. Toronto’s Susan Rogers provided “Worth Less”, and Calgary’s Leslea Kroll rounded out the program with the beautifully written “Riverside” – another world stage premiere.

The cast for the festival included local stage veterans as well as a few newcomers. Lee Waterhouse and Newton McColman made their stage debuts, along with Gary Magwood who made his stage debut at the age of 83. Jeremy Alarie, Nancy Garrod, Christine Leggat, Fernado Silva, Bill Petch, Heather Muir, Lisa Spence and MJ Mari rounded out the cast, with MJ taking on a large share of the work, playing three different roles in three different plays.

The festival received glowing reviews. It was considered a complete success by organizers and audiences alike. In fact, the Second Annual Theatre in The Wings Canadian National 10-Minute Play Festival has already been announced for September 2025. Submissions will open on January 31.

 

“What a fantastic afternoon. Loved the plays, each so different. Well acted, very entertaining. Play writing is definitely alive and well in Canada! Bravo!” – Judie Preece

“Wonderful afternoon of ten minute plays today. I live in Rideau Ferry so it’s a good two hour plus drive but it was so worth it.” – Jane Stott

“We enjoyed every minute of every play!” – Rosella Donaldson

“A delightful debut for the Canadian National 10-Minute Play Festival. Good selection – from poignant to punny – well cast and well played. Bravo!” – Gerry Fraiberg

“Great evening of hilarious and touching plays.” – Jane Gardner

“What a FABULOUS night!! We loved the show, every minute! Congratulations to the cast and crew!! We’re so glad that this is the FIRST Annual Canadian National 10-Minute Play Festival. We look forward to many more!” – Susan McCourt

“Excellent evening of diverse stories, superbly presented.” – Barb Grenier

“We loved all of the performances! Had a good chuckle and a delightful afternoon!” – Terry Hart