August 25 - 29, 2020
The Northumberland Players present the "Summer Shorts Festival", a virtual theatre festival featuring performances from across Canada.
Check out the video introduction, and stay tuned for more information about announcements and performances. How do you stay tuned, you ask? Subscribe to our email newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
If you have burning questions, you can email us.
Show Lineup
Day 1
Shows now available on demand
Arthur J. Peabody
A young girl meets a talking bird. They become fast friends as the bird regales her with his story. Plot twist end.
Director
Amanda Dempsey-Laughlin
Writer
Amanda Dempsey-Laughlin
Death Certificate
George is brought back to life after dying during surgery and finds some unexpected changes in his life.
Director
Michael Khashmanian
Writer
Michael Khashmanian
I'm Fine
A family tries to navigate the complex and emotional cycle of birth and death distantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Director
Alyssa Warmland
Writer
Alyssa Warmland
Day 2
Shows now available on demand
I Was Fine Until You Came Into the Room
A couple celebrating their 50th anniversary remembers the angst and excitement of when they first met.
Director
Matt Blundell
Writer
Rich Orloff
Fandom
FANDOM is about debating what to watch for a Netflix party, while everyone has different views. Especially Grace, who just wants to obsess over the Canadian classic, Degrassi.
Director
Alicia Plummer
Writer
Alicia Plummer
Introducing My Crazy
INTRODUCING MY CRAZY is an introduction to the voices that live inside the writer's head and probably live inside you too in one form or another.
Director
Marlo K. Shaw
Writer
Marlo K. Shaw
Day 3
Shows now available on demand
Mosquito
A therapist is contacted while on a camping trip by a prospective patient... who happens to be a mosquito. The mosquito wants to give up sucking blood, the therapist's husband wants to do in the mosquito, and the therapist just wants to do her best.
Director
Kris Riendeau
Writer
Rob Riendeau
Mr. Darcy & Mr. Bennet Meet for a Whiskey
More than 20 years after marrying Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy hosts Mr. Bennet at the Athenaeum Club in London to ask his advice about a challenging personal problem.
Director
Bob Bailey
Writer
Bob Bailey
STRETCH
A newly pregnant stressed out 35 year old struggling comedian overhauls her life and jumps at the opportunity to open a yoga studio in a desperate attempt for serenity and stability only to encounter the complete opposite.
Director
Toni Grates
Writer
Toni Grates
Day 4
Shows now available on demand
Old Age & Treachery
When an accident allows The Last Man on Earth to converse with an automated Pedestrian Crossing Guide, he is forced to confront his fear of the unknown dark across the street in order to find his lost love.
Director
Wyatt Lamoureux
Writer
Wyatt Lamoureux
Old Age & Treachery is not available for on-demand viewing.
//Skål
Denise and Colin's marriage will weather this pandemic...as long as they stay far, far apart. And as long as their daughter keeps playing Minecraft.
Director
Stacey Toste
Writer
Stacey Toste
Terror in Tobermory
A classic whodunnit. In the small town of Tobermory, everyone is a suspect when a wealthy cottage owner is murdered, leaving a banker and detective to unravel the mystery of his untimely demise.
Director
Nora Williamson
Writer
Nora Williamson
Day 5
Shows now available on demand
The Acme Sorting Company
This is a minuscule farce about what it might be like to start a new job in the Era of Covid.
Director
Jack Boyagian
Writer
Jim Finan
Venti Organ Transplant
Hannah gets a Skype call from her missing brother only to discover he is in a highly unusual cult—and needs help to escape immediately!
Director
Glenn Clifton
Writer
Glenn Clifton
Snow Angels
Two high school students wile away time in detention.
Director
Paul Koster
Writer
Paul Koster
Did You Enjoy the Festival?
Dozens of people worked for countless hours to produce the festival you participated in today. Without your support, events like this wouldn't be possible.
Show your support by leaving a tip! The writers and directors of the shows have suggested charities that you could donate to, or you could [tipjarwp mode="text_link" link_text="leave a tip for Northumberland Players" open_style="in_place"].
Thank you for your generous support!
For "Arthur J. Peabody", "Death Certificate", and "I'm Fine", visit the Day 1 Digital Program.
For "I Was Fine Until You Came Into The Room", "Fandom", and "Introducing My Crazy", visit the Day 2 Digital Program.
For "Mosquito", Mr. Darcy & Mr. Bennet Meet For A Whiskey", and "STRETCH", visit the Day 3 Digital Program.
For "Old Age & Treachery", "//Skål", and "Terror in Tobermory", visit the Day 4 Digital Program.
For "The Acme Sorting Company", "Venti Organ Transplant", and "Snow Angels", visit the Day 5 Digital Program.
Workshops
Acting 101
with a guy named Matt.
A guy named Matt loves theatre, specifically the art of acting. In this session, Matt will review what he knows about building characters through text interpretation and a proven, reliable method of acting.
And it'll be fun fun fun!
Thursday, July 30, 7:00 - 8:30pm
Join the Zoom workshop at nplay.ca/shortsworkshops
Play Writing 101
with Jessica Outram
Cobourg's Poet Laureate, writer of Once Upon a Rocking Chair and my good friend Jessica Outram will guide us through the essential starting places and tools for play writing.
Tuesday, August 11, 7:00 - 8:30pm
Join the Zoom workshop by emailing shorts@northumberlandplayers.ca
What is the Summer Shorts Festival?
Earlier in 2020, as a response to COVID-19, 35 actors and eight directors got together virtually as In Absentia Theatre to produce "The Importance of Being Earnest".
The production was so well received, and everyone involved was so excited, that In Absentia Theatre has melted into the Northumberland Players and together they will produce the Summer Shorts Festival.
The festival will feature a week of performances up to 15 minutes in length directed by and starring thespians from both Northumberland and across Canada. All rehearsals and performances will take place online, opening up countless collaboration opportunities.
Directors will be available for a Q&A immediately following the airing of their show, and all shows and discussions will be available for streaming after the festival concludes.
Festival Timeline
June 20: Show Submission Deadline
Thank you everyone who submitted a script!
June 20: Audition Submission Deadline
Thank you to everyone who auditioned!
Early July: Shows Announced
Tune in for the lineup. Also get our email newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Mid July: Cast Announcements
Tune in to see who will be starring. Also get our email newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
August 15: Final Recordings Submitted
After 6 weeks of rehearsals, we need your final recordings to get them ready to air!
August 25 - 31: Summer Shorts Festival
The moment(s) you've all been waiting for - the shows are available for viewing!
How Can I Direct a Show?
Show submissions are now closed.
You can submit any show to the festival, with the following criteria:
- Submissions can be from any source: original work, previously published works, adaptations, etc. Excerpts from full length scripts will not be accepted.
- You have the rights to perform the show. If you do not have the rights, we can assist you in obtaining them.
- Submissions must be between 3 and 15 minutes long.
- You and/or the writer are responsible for providing a statement about the content of the show (we can assist if needed).
All submissions will be accepted unless there are logistical (e.g., technical) limitations.
Directors can submit feedback questions they would like the audience to respond to. This virtual "workshop" lets you request specific feedback about your piece. This is optional.
After your recording airs, there will be a Q&A facilitated by Northumberland Players that you and/or the writer are asked to participate in.
Questions? Email us.
How Can I Act in a Show?
Audition submissions are now closed.
Actors interested in being cast in one of more of the shows will audition in a general, virtual call. You can audition for a specific role or show if you wish.
Your self-tape recording should be 1-3 minutes long - perform a monologue, read a scene with a partner, sing a song (or do all three!)... whatever you think will give the directors the best impression of you and your abilities.
Need some self-tape pointers?
Technology is not important - as long as we can hear and see you, it's about that. Phone, web cam, beta... it's not about the medium, it's about you!
This is the same as any other cold read audition, just filmed.
Want some more tips? Here are a couple articles:
Questions? Email us.