Bright yellow poster for The Manly Festival of Short Plays, taking place from November 13 to 22, 2025, at The Sky Theatre, St Andrew's Hall, 56 Raglan Street, Manly. The event features storytelling by the local community, with tickets costing $30 or $25. The poster includes logos of Lifeline and Northern Beaches Council, a QR code, and the website www.manlytheatregroup.com.
Poster for the Manly Festival of Short Plays running from November 13 to 22, 2025 at The Sky Theatre, St Andrew's Hall, 56 Raglan Street, Manly. Features black and white photo of two people in water with large yellow text and details about the event.
Poster for the Manly Festival of Short Plays with dates November 13-22, 2025, at The Sky Theatre, St Andrew's Hall, Manly. Features two actors with expressive facial expressions, one man and one woman, and information about ticket prices, storytelling, and community involvement.

The Manly Festival of Short Plays is back for it’s fourth year…

We are excited to invite you to the Manly Festival of Short Plays 2025

  • 12 new Australian plays

  • 39 actors

  • Over 2 weeks in November

  • Performed in the new Sky Theatre

There are six different plays on each week, so be sure to check out both Week 1 and Week 2 to see all the plays.

Tickets now on sale HERE.

The PLays

Cleared for Take Off Written and directed by Shelley Ross

  • Callum Horan

  • Lee Sarich

Corporate Nonsense Written by Gavin WoodfordmDirected by Ben Wardi

  • John Corrigan

  • Peter Bruce

  • Emma Baker

Faded Flowers Written and directed by Annie Gurton

  • Rowena Robinson

  • Caroline Pearce

  • Charlotte Chandler

  • Mikey Paterson

Foliage Written and directed by Kathleen Walker

  • Maria Alejandra Feudal

  • Valentine Bru

Gold Star Parents Written and directed by Chantal Harrison

  • Phillipa Coleman

  • Chantal Harrison

  • Charlotte Chandler

  • Claudia Limpert

  • Audrey Minami

  • Max Shadbolt

How to Live Forever Written by Harry Kolotas Directed by Kathleen Walker

  • Stef Savannah

  • Jane Hilton

  • Letizia De Francesco

  • John Corrigan

Losing the Plot Written by Carlin Hurdis Directed by Paul Kininmonth

  • Jeff Parsons

  • Isaac West

  • John Cross

  • Angharad Thompson Rees

  • Callum Horan

Murder on the Corso Written and directed by Zoë Hudson

  • Letizia De Francesco

  • Max Shadbolt

  • Roxy Jeffery

  • Tyler Cronin

No Tears in Space Written and directed by Annie Gurton. Creative Support Xavia Tankhilevich

  • Belinda Wightley

  • Ella Green

  • Alysan Smotlak

  • Callum Horan

Promises Promises Written and directed by Barbara Courtille

  • Rory Coverdale

  • Danny Nercessian

  • Jessica Hermosilla

Shred or Keep Written by Cassie Matheson. Directed by Frank Byrne

  • Sophia Burton

  • Phoebe Brian

Unfolding Harry Written and directed by Babara Courtille

  • Gavin Woodford

  • Mina Vu

In partnership with Life Line Northern Beaches.

Proudly sponsored by Northern Beaches Council.

Manly Theatre Group Finds Its New Home at the sky theatre

The Manly Theatre Group (MTG) is delighted to announce the signing of a new lease with Rev. Duncan and the St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Manly.

The historic St Andrews Memorial Hall on Raglan Street will now serve as MTG’s home and named as “The Sky Theatre” - a nod to it’s striking azure ceiling. This is where we will host workshops, committee meetings, the annual Festival of Short Plays and main-stage productions.

For the first time in decades, the stage has come alive again. A recent working bee saw MTG members rolling up their sleeves — dusting off the 50-year-old curtains, installing new AV and lighting equipment, and vacuuming every corner of the long-rested performance space. What had been a quiet hall for years now hums again with creative energy, laughter, and the shared excitement of a theatrical group that finally has a home.

“Having a permanent base has brought an incredible new energy to our group,” said MTG President Zoe Hudson.
“We can’t wait to share this revitalised space with the community on opening night of the Festival.”

A Historic and Beautiful Landmark

MTG is honoured to contribute to the living legacy of the Memorial Hall — one of Manly’s most significant landmarks. The foundation stone was laid in 1889, and the church was completed in 1890, designed by the eminent post-colonial architect Sir John Sulman. It stands today as one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Australia.

Recognised by the National Trust of Australia, the original façade of the church is celebrated for its architectural excellence. The Memorial Hall, where MTG now performs, was built to honour those who served in World War II — a place of remembrance that now also celebrates creativity, connection, and community.

Looking Ahead

As MTG prepares for the fourth annual Manly Festival of Short Plays, the excitement is palpable. The freshly renewed hall will host two weeks of original Australian theatre this November, welcoming audiences to experience a unique blend of history, artistry, and local storytelling.

From dusting off the curtains to lighting up the stage once more, MTG is proud to carry the spirit of theatre forward, right in the heart of Manly.

With special thanks to David Davies, MTG Treasurer and Rev. Duncan Anderson (pictured below with Zoe, MTG President) for negotiating the lease and making this creative venture possible.

from our artistic director

After four years of creative nomadic existence, from pop up theatre, to script readings on the beach, at The Office, Committee Meetings at The Steyne, rehearsals at the Ivanhoe, writing workshops in shop fronts, the Manly Library and Darley Smith Theatre, Manly Theatre Group has found its place, it’s residence where all creative events and programs will take place.

The Sky Theatre aptly named by founding member and president Zoe Hudson. In the site of the beautiful and historically significant architectural beauty of St Andrews Memorial Hall on Raglan Street, Manly. Seven miles from care.

We are beyond delighted, we are profoundly grateful that we now have a creative home where our heartbeat can collectively merge with community, and the curious in the creation of new Australian stories.

Manly Theatre Group prides itself in advocating and producing new Australian work for the community. No other Australian community theatre’s focus is committed firmly on producing new original work. 

The Sky to the mind, is filled with thoughts and feelings like the weather that passes through it. The vastness, the infinity, the boundless potential and endlessness of what could be. The Sky, “big blue sky thinking”, “the sky’s the limit”, the expanse of possibility to dream from seed to concept, a place where artists can generate and create bold, unconstrained creativity, generate ideas and explore possibility.

Kathleen Walker - Artistic Director, Manly Theatre Group

Empty dance or activity hall with a black floor, white walls, high blue ceiling, and several chairs stacked on the right side, with windows and curtains along the walls.
Three people standing in a kitchen, smiling at the camera. Woman on the left in black shirt and shorts, man in the middle in gray shirt and shorts, older man on the right in black shirt and peach shorts, holding papers.
Stage with red velvet curtain in a decorated auditorium with ornate white details on the blue wall above.
Three people on stage at an event. The man on the left in a suit holding a microphone and paper. The woman in the middle with glasses holds a polka-dotted container, smiling. The person on the right with curly hair and glasses raising their arms in celebration. Behind them is a sign that says "OF MIND."
A black and white photo of an indoor performance venue with a stage displaying a musician and a sign that reads 'IN A Bucketty STATE OF MIND'. The audience is seated and standing, watching the performance.
A woman with glasses and colorful hair in a bun is holding a brown paper bag near her face in a dimly lit room with a stage and a large sign that reads 'Bucketty State of Mi...' in the background.

Scripty at Bucketty’s

12th August 2025

Our very first Scripty at Bucketty’s was a night of theatre, laughter and community spirit. We dusted off six of our old favourite short plays — Driven to Distraction, Coo Coo, Mouse, Hullo My Angel, Working, and Nervous Laughter — bringing to fruition one of MTG’s original ideas of micro plays in microbreweries. Gavin literally shone as MC in his sparkly jacket, keeping the night rolling with charm and chuckles.

Anna and her crew whipped up some cheeky improv, GJT and Chantal gave us tunes to groove to and Eva’s raffle had everyone guessing. Old friends mingled, new ones were made and Bucketty’s buzzed with that gritty, silly, joy-filled energy we love.

Plays, pints, and people… it was a night of community magic.

Thank you to Bucketty’s for hosting us and making this possible.

Photos by Alex Paterson and Neil Thomson Rees.

A glass of dark beer with a foamy head on a bar counter, blurred background of bottles and bar equipment.
Two people having a conversation on stage, one man and one woman, in front of a neon sign that reads 'STAGE OF MINDS'.
A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair is speaking or singing passionately, wearing a red and black long-sleeve top, with her hands raised, in a dimly lit indoor setting.
People on a stage in a music venue, with a sign reading 'In a Bucketty State of Mind' and another sign pointing to a side door for food collection.
A man wearing glasses and a cap standing on a stage reading from a paper in a dimly lit venue with colorful lighting. In the foreground are several gift baskets wrapped in clear cellophane. The background includes a screen with partially visible text and signs indicating restrooms.
Four people standing on a stage reading papers in front of an audience, with a sign behind them that says "In a Bucketty State of Mind".
A woman and a man are on stage, reading from papers. Behind them is a sign that says 'Buckett State of Mind'. The woman is wearing a pink and black leopard print dress, and the man is in a dark suit with glasses.
A woman wearing glasses and an apron is sitting at a table, speaking to a girl standing in front of her with a microphone nearby. The background features a sign that says 'State of Mind' and dim, stage-like lighting.
Interior of a bar or cafe with wooden decor, hanging pendant lights, and a neon sign. People are standing and chatting near the bar, which has bottles and glasses on it. There are clothing items, hats, and shirts displayed on the upper level. Plants and decorative lighting add to the cozy atmosphere.

Full House for Manly Theatre Group’s 1 in 7 and The Audition Helpers

A woman with curly hair wearing a blue headband and navy blue shirt with white floral pattern, smiling and looking slightly upward against a dark background.
Audience seated in a theater or auditorium, attentively watching a performance or presentation.

31 July 2025

Manly Theatre Group’s latest double bill at the Darley Smith Theatre in Manly offered audiences two bold and contrasting original Australian works—Vivien Thomas’ emotionally resonant 1 in 7, and Carlin Hurdis’ razor-sharp backstage comedy The Audition Helpers. Together, these one-act plays created an unforgettable night of theatre that drew full houses across four performances.

1 in 7 – A Powerful Collective Cry

Set in the emotionally charged space of a hospital waiting room, 1 in 7 explores the raw and often unseen turmoil of women awaiting further breast cancer screening. With one in seven Australian women affected by the disease in their lifetime, playwright Vivien Thomas takes this grim statistic and humanises it through a beautifully rendered ensemble piece. Directed by Kathleen Walker, the play unfolds over four tense hours where six women share not only physical space but deep fears, biting humour, and surprising solidarity.

Anchored by a powerful performance from Trish Donoghue as Tina, a harried mother whose life has no time for illness, the cast gives voice to characters at various life stages, all grappling with uncertainty. From the tightly-wound retiree (Liz Jewell) wondering if cancer will disrupt her dream holiday, to the outwardly brash but inwardly unraveling Mrs Collins (Karen Pattinson), the play is an aching study in emotional endurance.

As tears and confessions flow, so too does commentary on wider societal pressures—cost of living, climate anxiety and gendered emotional labour. Under Walker’s direction, the production balances poignancy with humour and delivers a message of compassion: we never truly know what others carry.

The Audition Helpers – Wickedly Funny Meta-Theatre

In stark contrast, The Audition Helpers is a brilliantly meta, laugh-out-loud comedy that lifts the curtain on the less glamorous side of community theatre. Written by Carlin Hurdis and also directed by Kathleen Walker, the play centres around two unnamed audition “helpers”, played with delicious bitterness and desperation by Gregory J. Thorsby and Frank Byrne, relegated to backstage duties after decades of trying to make it big.

The result is a biting satire filled with ego clashes, theatre gossip, and absurd audition monologues (yes, including a moment from The Goat that sparks hilariously inappropriate commentary). Alisan Smotlak is the blissfully unaware director, while Danny Nercessian, John Corrigan, and Elaine de Jager round out the cast with comedic flair.

With nods to vaudeville, film noir, and modern absurdism, The Audition Helpers is both an affectionate homage and a sharp critique of the theatre world’s vanities and forgotten talents. Beneath the laughs lies a deeper commentary on ageism, insecurity, and the eternal search for relevance in creative spaces.

~

Manly Theatre Group’s pairing of 1 in 7 and The Audition Helpers showcases not only the depth of Australian playwriting talent but also our company’s ability to pivot between emotional drama and comedic critique. Both plays, though tonally different, explore human vulnerability and resilience—whether facing illness or obscurity.

Performed to packed audiences at the Darley Smith Theatre in July 2025, these productions reflect a vibrant and evolving community theatre scene that dares to entertain while asking difficult questions. Here's hoping both Thomas and Hurdis continue to bring new Australian stories to the stage.

“1 in 7” Cast: Trish Donoghue, Ella Green, Talith Fishburn, Liz Jewell, Jessica Hermosilla, Anna Bowden, Chantal Harrison, Karen Pattinson and Claudia Limpert.

“The Audition Helpers” Cast: Gregory J Thorsby, Frank Byrne, Alisan Smotlak, Danny Nercessian, John Corrigan and Elaine de Jager.

Assistant Director: Annie Gurton

Lighting, Sound & Videography: Geraldo Rodrigues

Photography: Neil Thompson Rees

A man dressed in a coat, scarf, and sunglasses on stage, holding a clutch purse, with blue stage curtains and stage lights in the background.
Six women sitting on stage, engaged in conversation, with a table holding books and tissues in front of them.
Two actors on stage during a theatrical performance, one older woman with short gray hair and glasses holding papers, and a man with a gray hat, glasses, and striped pants, also holding papers, in front of red curtains.
A woman speaking to a young woman, both indoors against a dark background with bright lights overhead.
A man with gray hair and a slight beard wearing a dark shirt with headphones around his neck, looking to the side against a dark background.