About TenFest

TenFest is on hold until 2012

TenFest is a festival of ten-minute plays sponsored by Work in Progress Theatre focused on development and community involvement.

As of November 2009, Work in Progress Theatre received funding and support through the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP) towards the Festival as well as some individual donations.

It will not charge an entry fee to participants.  Writers whose plays are selected to be a part of the festival will receive a small honourarium.  There are a several paid positions to help manage and oversee the festival.  The majority of other positions will receive a percentage of box office share dependent on the number of participants as well as fundraising and funding applications that are successful prior to the festival.

TenFest is scheduled to take place in October 2010 in a venue equipped with basic lighting and sound, located in downtown St. Catharines.

The theme for TenFest is “Green Living.”

TenFest objectives

To produce a juried festival of 8-10, ten-minute plays of a high standard of quality including a variety of genres.

To actively seek new ten-minute plays by writers from, or with a connection to, the Niagara Region.

To encourage writers from diverse cultures including the Francophone and Aboriginal/Native communities to submit scripts so that the Festival will reflect the cultural diversity of the region.

To support the work and participation of local actors, directors, playwrights and other theatre artists.

How it works

Work in Progress Theatre will

-          provide five scheduled performances during the festival in a venue equipped with basic lighting and sound, located in downtown St. Catharines.

-          provide one Stage Manager and crew member to manage and run performances.

-          provide Box Office and Front-of-House personnel.

-          provide Festival Publicity

-          arrange an open audition call and crew call

-          assist with finding rehearsal space

Writers whose plays are chosen to be a part of the Festival will

-          retain copyright and ownership of their work and give TenFest permission to produce their plays alongside the works of other writers

-          select personnel such as a director and actors for their plays with the assistance of the open audition call and crew call

-          be responsible for production costs associated with set elements such as furniture, props and costumes

-          understand that as part of a volunteer-run festival they won’t receive any royalties but will receive a small honourarium

Script submission guidelines

Writers should live within the Niagara Region, or have a connection to the Region.

Plays should have a running time between eight to twelve minutes.

Plays should in some way reflect the theme “Green Living.”

Plays should have a maximum of three characters.

Set requirements should be kept to a minimum so that set changes between plays can be completed in less than two minutes.

Plays should be complete with a beginning, middle and end.

Plays may have been previously workshopped, but previously produced or published plays are ineligible.

Plays will be evaluated by an independent jury based on the submission guidelines and the quality of the writing.  Work in Progress Theatre reserves the right to ensure that plays included meet the guidelines and that the festival has variety and balance. 

Writers wishing to submit by mail are asked to submit three copies of their scripts, each with a title page bearing only the name of the play, along with one cover page listing their contact information and the title of the play.

Scripts can be mailed to:

Work In Progress Theatre, TenFest Play Submissions, 125 Carlton St, PO Box 29046,

St. Catharines, ON, L2R 7P9

Scripts must be postmarked no later than June 30, 2010. 

Alternatively, submissions may be sent by email to wipt@sympatico.ca

Email submissions require only one copy of the play bearing title only, with a separate cover page listing contact information and the title of the play.

Email submissions will be accepted until 11:59pm on June 30, 2010.

Call 905-359-4877 or email wipt@sympatico.ca if you have any questions or for more information