Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The Advantages Of 10 Minute Play Scripts

By Dianne Crane


10 minute play scripts are to the performance arts as the well established short story genre is to literature. Some individuals might express doubts that it is possible to produce a valid piece of theatre in a very story time span but this format has become increasingly popular over the last forty years. Websites specializing in these works have thousands of different pieces which can be browsed online and bought for performance.

The concise format of 10 minute play scripts can offer benefits to writers, performers and audiences. Most adverts last for less for thirty seconds, a minute at most and within that time-frame a viewer can be so convinced of the advantages of the item being sold that he will choose to buy it. However odd it may initially seem to attempt to tell a complete tale in less than a quarter of an hour many authors have demonstrated that it is entirely possible.

Short productions are particularly suited to school drama groups, as an entire work can be addressed in a single lesson. Young people respond well to the idea of an art form which gets to the point quickly and succinctly. Since theatre is often a way of looking at life issues and problems these works allow a number of different themes to be explored in the course of a single term.

Short plays will tend to have smaller casts than full length productions. This offers several advantages to recreational drama groups. Rehearsal planning becomes much easier when only those involved in a given piece need attend. The company as a whole can be producing several different works at the same time; this allows everyone the chance to take the lead role at some point.

Short drama pieces tend to require simple sets and staging arrangements. Their power lies in telling a story in the most direct way possible and they are not dependant on elaborate effects or costumes. In these cash starved times keeping costs down is a powerful incentive for both amateur and professional theatre groups.

Experienced authors know that it can be more difficult to write concisely than at length, many have experimented with the ten minute format where every action and line of speech has to drive the story forward. Conversely, this sort of work appeals to novice writers who might find the idea of producing a full length piece overwhelming. The form encourages the development of writing skills, indeed there have been several competitions where new writers can submit their work.

Audiences have responded very favorably to short productions. Going to the theatre is sometimes seen as a high-brow activity and the more classical three act format can be perceived as somehow threatening. The informality of an evening featuring several short works is far more accessible to those who would avoid more conventional dramatic art.

Some companies who specialize in 10 minute play scripts feature advice for would-be authors on their websites. Many theatre groups run short courses or workshops where inexperienced people can take part in a production, which could range from farce to tragedy. These concise works are a modern approach to the performing arts which bring them into the world of individuals who would probably not otherwise experience them.




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