Fast Play Fest is a high-energy, 24-hour creative experience where original short plays are written, rehearsed, and performed—all in a single day.
Created by and for The Barrow Group community, the festival celebrates collaboration, spontaneity, and the joy of making work together. It’s bold, scrappy, and alive—proof of what can happen when artists trust their instincts and support one another.
What It Is
Fast Play Fest brings together TBG students and alumni as writers, directors, and actors to create a series of brand-new short plays—each approximately ten minutes long—culminating in a public performance in our 70-seat theater.
The audience is open to all and invited to experience the thrill of storytelling made under pressure, fueled by imagination, teamwork, and very little sleep.
Who Participates
- Writers, directors, and actors from the TBG community
- Past and current students collaborating across disciplines
- An open, enthusiastic audience eager to witness new work
How It Works
Everything happens in just 24 hours:
- Friday, 10:00pm
Playwrights receive a set of themes and props and begin writing. - Overnight (10:00pm–6:00am)
Writers draft ten-minute plays on-site. - Saturday, 6:00am
Directors arrive to read and select scripts. - Saturday, 8:00am
Actors arrive and receive their roles. - Saturday, 9:00am–7:00pm
Teams rehearse, memorize, and shape the work, with each piece receiving a focused technical rehearsal. - Saturday, 7:30pm
House opens. - Saturday, 8:00pm
Ready or not—curtain up.
Why We Do It
Fast Play Fest embodies what The Barrow Group stands for:
- Story first
- Collaboration over perfection
- Creative risk-taking in a supportive environment
- Trust in process, people, and presence
It’s not about polish—it’s about discovery, connection, and the exhilaration of saying yes to the moment.