Huge congratulations to the successful playwrights for their scripts chosen for the July 2025 productions!

After a thorough and thoughtful selection process, we are excited to announce the two plays chosen for this year’s festival:

The Audition Helpers by Carlin Hurdis and,

1 in 20 an original one-act drama by Vivien Thomas.

Both plays stood out for their strong writing, theatrical viability, and emotional impact. The Audition Helpers offers a clever, meta-theatrical exploration of community theatre itself, blending sharp satire with physical comedy and providing standout roles for a small, versatile cast. It’s a tribute to, and gentle critique of, the behind-the-scenes chaos and camaraderie that makes amateur theatre so special.

1 in 20 is a poignant and authentic ensemble piece set in a medical waiting room. It explores fear, vulnerability, and the quiet strength found in unexpected connections. It offers richly developed roles for a predominantly female cast, and its themes of health, resilience, and emotional honesty are deeply moving and socially relevant.

Selecting these two was not an easy task. We received many strong entries, and our decision was based on a range of factors, including the clarity of each script's vision, the strength and number of available roles, and the overall fit with our festival’s scope and production capacity.

We are incredibly grateful to all who submitted work, and we look forward to sharing these selected plays with our community.

Warm regards,

Selection Committee (Mauricio, Eva, Geraldo & Nola)

Auditions will take place on the following days in Manly Library:

• Wednesday 30 April 2025 7.00-9.00pm

• Thursday 01 May 2025 7.00-9.00pm

Please prepare a 2 minute monologue of your choice and sign up to the event on Facebook in order to receive the scripts in advance.

Any questions? sling them over to manlytheatregroup@gmail.com.