It’s the return of Queenstown’s unofficial favourite production.
Remarkable Theatre is bringing Pint-Sized Plays to three venues over three nights this week.
It’s the eighth year but sixth outing of the tiny theatrics in Queenstown, which doubles as a script-writing competition where the winner is chosen entirely by the crowd — though they don’t know who exactly they’re voting for.
Beginning in Wales in 2008, pint-sized plays are written by entrants from all over the world.
In Queenstown, just 10 of these scripts are chosen by Remarkable Theatre to be cast and performed on small bar stages with minimal props and within 10 minutes.
The writers’ identities are unknown to the cast and audience to allow unbiased voting.
There’s a winner at the end of each night, and an overall champion revealed after the final performance — last year, Queenstowner Phena Byrne took it out.
Remarkable Theatre’s Melanie Grindell (pictured), who’s performing herself, says it’s a lot of fun for everyone in the room, and works well for audiences who may not like traditional theatre.
She says the plays are typically comedic and witty, and ‘‘if the first play isn’t your cup of tea, hopefully the next one will tickle your fancy’’.
Grindell says this year’s extra special, with the addition of Te Atamira as a venue — ‘‘we’ll turn it into a kind of bar’’ — and a full-circle moment for David Cantwell, who originally introduced the concept to Remarkable Theatre, and is this year acting and directing.
Pint-Sized Plays’ season starts Friday at Te Atamira, followed by Bannockburn on Saturday and wrapping up at Yonder on Sunday.
It runs from 7pm till 10pm; tickets, $25, via Eventbrite, or $30 on the door, if available.
