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About Us.
At its core, the St. John’s Shorts is about creating a festival that allows as many St. John’s artists as possible the opportunity to present their work on stage.
The St. John’s Short Play Festival presents a wide array of plays, including pieces from renowned playwrights, such as Harold Pinter, Anton Chekhov, Samuel Beckett, and Judith Thompson.
In addition, the festival has introduced St. John’s audiences to up-and-coming playwrights. Out of the 90 plays presented in our first 5 seasons, 76 of them have been original plays by St. John’s playwrights. The festival has become the place for artists to take risks, challenge themselves, and show off new work to the community;
an event where audiences have come to expect funny, thought-provoking, compelling theatre in a bite-sized format.
This project provides an opportunity to create excellent, yet economical theatre.
The St. John’s Short Play Festival is designed to benefit as many theatre artists as possible each year.
The St. John’s Short Play Festival presents a wide array of plays, including pieces from renowned playwrights, such as Harold Pinter, Anton Chekhov, Samuel Beckett, and Judith Thompson.
In addition, the festival has introduced St. John’s audiences to up-and-coming playwrights. Out of the 90 plays presented in our first 5 seasons, 76 of them have been original plays by St. John’s playwrights. The festival has become the place for artists to take risks, challenge themselves, and show off new work to the community;
an event where audiences have come to expect funny, thought-provoking, compelling theatre in a bite-sized format.
This project provides an opportunity to create excellent, yet economical theatre.
The St. John’s Short Play Festival is designed to benefit as many theatre artists as possible each year.
Meet Our Team
SJS 2022 Board of Directors
Kelly Lewis (Chairperson)
Joseph Dennis (Vice-Chairperson)
Yanshuang Han (Treasurer)
Robyn Vivian (Secretary)
Jeremy Nolan (Outreach)
Azal Dosanjh (Professional Development)
Nora Barker (At-Large)
Brandon Cave (At-Large)
Zihan Jin (At-Large)
Raven Rittman (At-Large)
Luke Rowe (At-Large)
Joseph Dennis (Vice-Chairperson)
Yanshuang Han (Treasurer)
Robyn Vivian (Secretary)
Jeremy Nolan (Outreach)
Azal Dosanjh (Professional Development)
Nora Barker (At-Large)
Brandon Cave (At-Large)
Zihan Jin (At-Large)
Raven Rittman (At-Large)
Luke Rowe (At-Large)
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SJS History.
St. John’s Shorts originated at the Rocket Bakery over coffee on July 5th, 2016. Jana Gillis, one of the festivals founding members, had suggested the idea of a short play festival on the "I Heart the Arts” Facebook page, and a number of St. John’s theatre artists expressed an interest in it.
Subsequently, Jamie Skidmore called the first meeting of St. John’s Shorts, which filled several tables at the café. This meeting brought together the founding members of the group: Gillis, Skidmore, Patrick Foran, Natalia Hennelly, and Jackie Hynes, with Natalia Hennelly being named Artistic Director. SJS sent out a call for interested participants and presented 11 plays, with four performances each, over a two week period. In total, 75 performers, directors, producers, designers, and technical crew worked on the productions.
During the 2016 festival, Skidmore suggested to Resource Centre for the Arts Artistic Animateur, Nicole Rousseau, that it might be advantageous for St. John’s Shorts to team up with RCA/RCAT. RCA/RCAT offered the festival a two week run for 2017, which presented 14 plays with three performances each.
The 2018 St. John’s Short Play Festival continued this important partnership and saw an increased number of productions (22) and original works by local playwrights (19). This festival saw the box office grow enormously, with 1,500 guests at the theatre over 10 nights of programming.
In 2019, demand for space in the Festival exceeded its capacity, attracting 42 submissions. The committee programmed the festival by lottery, allowing equal opportunity to all of the submitting companies. RCA/RCAT was able to offer a third week to accommodate even more plays. In the end, 26 productions were featured in the 2019 Festival from September 5-22, including a record 22 original works. The festival also offered three artists who were not successful in the lottery an opportunity to present a short reading or performance at a cabaret on opening night. More than 1,500 visitors came to the LSPU Hall over the 3 weeks of the Festival.
Subsequently, Jamie Skidmore called the first meeting of St. John’s Shorts, which filled several tables at the café. This meeting brought together the founding members of the group: Gillis, Skidmore, Patrick Foran, Natalia Hennelly, and Jackie Hynes, with Natalia Hennelly being named Artistic Director. SJS sent out a call for interested participants and presented 11 plays, with four performances each, over a two week period. In total, 75 performers, directors, producers, designers, and technical crew worked on the productions.
During the 2016 festival, Skidmore suggested to Resource Centre for the Arts Artistic Animateur, Nicole Rousseau, that it might be advantageous for St. John’s Shorts to team up with RCA/RCAT. RCA/RCAT offered the festival a two week run for 2017, which presented 14 plays with three performances each.
The 2018 St. John’s Short Play Festival continued this important partnership and saw an increased number of productions (22) and original works by local playwrights (19). This festival saw the box office grow enormously, with 1,500 guests at the theatre over 10 nights of programming.
In 2019, demand for space in the Festival exceeded its capacity, attracting 42 submissions. The committee programmed the festival by lottery, allowing equal opportunity to all of the submitting companies. RCA/RCAT was able to offer a third week to accommodate even more plays. In the end, 26 productions were featured in the 2019 Festival from September 5-22, including a record 22 original works. The festival also offered three artists who were not successful in the lottery an opportunity to present a short reading or performance at a cabaret on opening night. More than 1,500 visitors came to the LSPU Hall over the 3 weeks of the Festival.
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Our Mandate.
To create a space for original works of theatre, as well as classical and contemporary works by local artists.
To make theatre accessible, safe, and affordable.
To facilitate collaboration and sharing of resources between independent theatre companies in St. John’s.
To create a space for St John’s theatre artists to practice, develop, explore and refine their craft. This space includes, but is not limited to, the annual Short Play Festival.
To strengthen our community of St. John’s theatre artists and support all theatre practitioners regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or ability.
To make theatre accessible, safe, and affordable.
To facilitate collaboration and sharing of resources between independent theatre companies in St. John’s.
To create a space for St John’s theatre artists to practice, develop, explore and refine their craft. This space includes, but is not limited to, the annual Short Play Festival.
To strengthen our community of St. John’s theatre artists and support all theatre practitioners regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or ability.
