Stage directors direct for many reasons. For some it is their livelihood, others are actors having “a go” on the other side of the lights or they may come from a related field, like film. Such is the case with Ben Davies.

A film maker for 20 years, Ben decided to try his hand at directing on stage and quickly realized that it would be quite different. Ben is directing two short plays for the fourth annual Favourite Shorts Festival, which will be performed at the Michael Hoskins Theatre, TAS 19-27 March.
“I was picturing close-ups and dolly shots and then realized it wasn’t going to happen on stage.” says Ben. “However with the talent of the actors that I have on board, I don’t need a dolly shot.”
Warren Bartik is directing two short pieces, Borderline Case and The Job Review. He loves the challenge of new actors, new plays and the pressure of a short rehearsal period to bring the show to a presentable standard.
First time theatre director Julie Collins believes her own considerable skills as an actor will guide her direction of Sensitivity and Deep and Meaningful. “I hope my own insights into the acting process, will help me to get nuanced and insightful performances out of my actors.” she says.
Popular actor Mark Bourne is directing for the festival and hoping to win the people’s choice award this year as he was runner up twice last year. “I chose Morally Bankrupt because it is a light and funny piece, with a final comic twist in the tail,” he says. “Anybody encountering that very special brand of banking customer service (red-tape and sarcasm) will probably end up siding with Rob the Bank Robber.”
For me (Barbara Albury), directing The Emperor’s New Clothes is like doing a mini opera: “It’s a complex piece, but I have a troupe of dedicated performers, artists and musicians and an assistant director (Bernard Kusch) to make it all happen.”
David Trestrail is directing The Mistress, a bitter-sweet comedy about love, loss and artful deception while Benjamin Thorn examines the ins and outs of clever language in Every Picture Tells a Story and Peter O’Donohue explores issues of social networking vis-à-vis real communication in Status Update.
Lisa Ward chose Love in Lycra because: “it has great roles for four women who are funny, flawed and fabulous” and young director Emily Thomas-Moore tackles the concept of a play within a play in the surreal Waiting for Something to Happen.
Two seasons of plays 19 – 27 March, Michael Hoskins Theatre, TAS. Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturday matinees at 3pm. Different program each week. Book Dymocks 6771 4558 or buy tickets at door. $15, $12.
Story:Barbara Albury