From zero to new Shakespeare play in two days!

Every year, Silicon Valley Shakespeare produces a 48-hour play festival, partnering with a local college or university.

In one weekend (48 hours!), a wide array of local artists start with nothing, write, rehearse, and do a full public performance of eight new short plays!

This year’s festival will be in early January, 2018, co-produced once again with the Foothill College Theatre Arts Department. Details coming soon!

How it works

6pm Friday: Eight teams – each with a local writer, director, and actors – meet and find out their play’s criteria.
- Criteria: the Shakespeare play inspiring theirs, a required line of dialogue, required prop, and other surprises.
12pm Saturday: The writer submits a completed script, having spent all night writing from scratch!
Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon: Everyone rehearses. A lot.
6pm Sunday: Eight completely new short plays premiere, in a full production for the public.

At the end of the performance, the audience votes for their favorites. Votes are counted during a brief audience talkback with the writers and directors.