At a glance
- When
- Thursday 12 to Saturday 14 November (week 1) and Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 November 2026 (week 2); eight performances in all
- Where
- The Sky Theatre, St Andrew’s Hall, 54 Raglan Street, Manly
- Cost
- $30 adult, $25 concession; tickets are sold through Humanitix
- Run by
- Manly Theatre Group, supported by Northern Beaches Council
- Who it’s for
- Adults and teenagers who like new local theatre; the organiser recommends the plays for audiences aged 15 and over
- What to do now
- Pick week 1 or week 2 (the plays differ each week) and book through Humanitix; the organiser says the festival has sold out to a full house every year since 2022
- Last checked
- Wednesday 4 November 2026, against the council’s event page, Manly Theatre Group’s website and the Humanitix listing
- Not yet confirmed
- Parking and public transport advice, how many tickets remain, and whether seats are reserved (none is stated on the pages)
The Manly Festival of Short Plays returns for a fifth year with eight performances at the Sky Theatre in Manly between Thursday 12 and Saturday 21 November 2026. Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for concession holders, and the organiser, Manly Theatre Group, recommends the plays for audiences aged 15 and over because of strong language and mild nudity. Sydney is on daylight saving time, so all times below are local AEDT.
This guide uses Northern Beaches Council’s event page, the Manly Theatre Group news page and the Humanitix ticket page, all read on 4 November 2026.
When are the performances?
| Date | Doors | Curtain up | Listed finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 12 Nov | 7pm | 7:30pm | 9:30pm |
| Fri 13 Nov | 7pm | 7:30pm | 9:30pm |
| Sat 14 Nov (matinee) | 1:45pm | 2pm | 4pm |
| Sat 14 Nov | 7pm | 7:30pm | 9:30pm |
| Thu 19 Nov | 7pm | 7:30pm | 9:30pm |
| Fri 20 Nov | 7pm | 7:30pm | 9:30pm |
| Sat 21 Nov (matinee) | 1:45pm | 2pm | 4pm |
| Sat 21 Nov | 7pm | 7:30pm | 9:30pm |
The organiser says the licensed bar will stock wine, beer, hot drinks and snacks. After the Thursday 12 November performance there are complimentary nibbles. The council’s page and the Humanitix page agree on every date and time above.
Which plays are on in week 1 and week 2?
Manly Theatre Group invites local people to write ten-minute plays, and actors from the community perform them. This year there are 12 new Australian works. The company says the selection changes between the two weeks, so each week is a different programme, with six plays split by an interval.
| Week 1 (12 to 14 Nov) | Written by | Directed by |
|---|---|---|
| Dying for Doughnuts | Harry Kolotas | Paul Kininmonth |
| The Line | Felix Carlyle | Felix Carlyle |
| Mad Bitches | Frank Leggett | Frank Leggett |
| Interval | ||
| Home to Roast | Cassie Matheson | Frank Byrne |
| Aqua | Liz Eastland | Liz Eastland |
| The Naked Truth | Liz Jewell | Liz Jewell |
| Week 2 (19 to 21 Nov) | Written by | Directed by |
|---|---|---|
| Redundant | Annie Gurton | Sharon Howard-Butler |
| Audition | Stef Savannah | Lee Sarich |
| Ten-Minute Warning | Trevor Shaskey | Trevor Shaskey |
| Interval | ||
| Monobrow | Xavia Tankhilevich | Katrin Herzog |
| Time to Tell | Diane Bartok | Kathleen Walker |
| Peace, Love & Camel Skin Slippers | Harry Kolotas | Kathleen Walker |
The company’s own pages do not describe the plots, and the lists above are all it publishes about the line-up. Harry Kolotas has a play in each week.
How much are tickets, and how do I book?
Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for concession holders. The council’s page links to booking, and the Humanitix page is the ticket seller. Humanitix says it puts all profits from its booking fees to charity. The listing does not state the size of the booking fee. Manly Theatre Group is a registered not-for-profit charity, and it says it appreciates an optional donation when you order.
The Humanitix page says refunds are available up to one day before the event. The pages do not say whether seats are reserved or general admission, or whether tickets can be bought at the door.
Are the plays suitable for children?
The council and Humanitix pages carry the same content warning: the plays contain adult themes, including strong language and mild nudity, and are recommended for audiences aged 15 and over. It is a recommendation rather than a stated door policy, and the pages do not say whether younger teenagers may enter with an adult.
How many people go, and has it sold out before?
The council says the festival plays to around 1,000 attendees at Manly Theatre Group’s home venue, and that more than 70 local actors, directors, writers and backstage and front-of-house crew take part each year. Manly Theatre Group says the festival has sold out to a full house every year since it began in 2022. These are the organisers’ own figures, and the council repeats the attendance number.
The two company pages count the cast differently. The news page says 37 actors take part, and the Humanitix listing says 42 actors, so treat the cast size as unsettled. Both pages say the 12 plays run over two weeks.
Is the Sky Theatre accessible?
The Humanitix page says there is ramp access to the theatre from Augusta Lane. If you need assistance, it asks you to tell the company in advance by emailing info@manlytheatregroup.com so it can support you. The council page gives the same address for general contact.
How do I get to 54 Raglan Street?
The theatre is in St Andrew’s Hall at 54 Raglan Street, Manly. None of the three pages gives parking or public transport advice. The council’s Manly parking station fees, read on 26 October 2026, are set out in our Manly Oval Christmas concert guide.
Who runs the festival, and how can I take part?
Manly Theatre Group describes itself as an independent theatre company and registered charity based on Gayamaygal country on the Northern Beaches. Its about page names Zoë Hudson as founder and president, Kathleen Walker as artistic director, and Bradley White as deputy artistic director and production manager. Zoë Hudson wrote Murder on the Corso, which was staged at the 2025 festival.
The company says it runs acting sessions every three weeks, monthly drop-in writers workshops and more formal courses to develop original plays. It also hosts social events in Manly and group trips into the city to see other companies’ shows. Script and audition calls, and performance dates, are posted on its news page.
Should I go to the matinee or an evening show?
| Evening performance | Saturday matinee | |
|---|---|---|
| Doors | 7pm | 1:45pm |
| Curtain up | 7:30pm | 2pm |
| Listed finish | 9:30pm | 4pm |
| Dates | 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 Nov | 14 and 21 Nov |
| Extra | Complimentary nibbles after the Thursday 12 November show only | None listed |
The programme is the same at each performance within a week, so the matinee and the Saturday evening show on 14 November show the same six plays, and the matinee and evening on 21 November show the other six.
What else does Manly Theatre Group have on?
The company’s events page lists a Script Reading with Eva on Thursday 5 November and Tuesday 24 November, both from 7pm to 9pm at the Sky Theatre, described as a relaxed way to have a go at acting for a night with no experience necessary. Workshops need a $30 yearly membership for insurance, according to the same page. The company says it also produces a main stage production each July, and its 2026 main stage titles were Le Chemin and The Life and Death of Harry Bennett.
The company’s productions page lists the 2025 festival plays, including Murder on the Corso, Corporate Nonsense and Foliage. That page gives titles and credits only.
Sources
- Northern Beaches Council: The Manly Festival of Short Plays 2026, read 4 November 2026
- Manly Theatre Group: news, events and productions, read 4 November 2026
- Humanitix: The Manly Festival of Short Plays 2026, read 4 November 2026
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Manly Theatre Group or Northern Beaches Council.
Featured image: A Raglan Street house in Manly (photo: Sardaka / CC BY 3.0) (text added)