Shortcuts 2005 was a free festival which took place for one week in May 2005. Eighteen different pieces of produced, and brought together new writers, directors, actors and designers.
Writers were matched with directors to work on new scripts, and theatre companies were invited to work with young designers and producers.
The resulting festival attracted a host of new people to the Arcola and provided a creative platform for new young artists.
Monday 23rd May
The Veronika Sessions
Adapted from a novel by Paulo Coehlo
Written by Rachel Wagstaff
Directed by Emma Serlin for the Hobbs Factory
Designed by Anna Jones
Written by Fintan O’Higgins
Directed by Amy Bonsall
Designed by Patrick
Sweeny Agonistes
Written by TS Eliot
Directed by Stewart Melton
Musical Direction by Espen Tjalve
Tuesday 24th May
Trenches
Written by Eli Azuri
Directed by Giles Foreman
Grenzganger / Border Cases
Written by Martina Messing
Directed by Rebecca Tortora
Rainbow Conversations Three short plays
Written by Michael Ayers
Rainbow Conversations directed by Elina Manni
Dead Woman’s Music directed by Tom Cooper
Eclipsed directed by Sam Baldock
Wednesday 25th May
Sudden Silence
Written by Penny Black
Directed by Ellen Hughes
Designed by Ellan Parry
I want to be someone like someone else once was
Devised by Lacuna Theatre Company
Ordinary People Four short plays
Written by Richard Hardwick
Oyster directed by James Hammond
Upon the Roof directed by Dan Horrigan
No Problems directed by Kelly Wilkinson
Three Hard Blasts directed by Jonathan Loe
Thursday 26th May
Isolation
Written and directed by Tim Street
Swingers
Written by Katherine Knowles
Directed by Hannah Price
The Conversation of Another
Written and directed by Christopher Yandell
A Peasant of El Salvador
Written by Gould and Stearns
Adapted by Mick Fitzmaurice
Directed by Oliver Price
Friday 27th May
Triloquy: Three ten minute monologues
Written by John Grogan
Directed by Donnacadh O’Briain
The Prize performed by Catherine Cusack
Whatever performed by Denise Welch
Night Out performed by Peter Milne
Zoo
Written by Dawn King
Directed by Vicky Jones
Imogen
Written and directed by Toby Clarke