Brunker Community Theatre has developed a comedy show called Improva-rama, with the title drawn from two words: improv, which is short for improvisation, a spontaneous ensemble theatre art form which has the performers making up the theatre, usually comedy, on the spot; and drama.

And Knock And Run Theatre will present its Play Date, an annual short play festival that celebrates new writing and collaboration, with this year's theme Time and Space and including 10 plays by established and new writers.

Improva-rama, which has eight performances between November 5 and 20 at Adamstown's Theatre on Brunker, features a team of 10 actors, some well-known, others fairly new, who will create their own routines and songs, with no rehearsals held.

The actors are Paul Sansom, Jan Hunt, Colin Delaney, Andrew Trigg, Lois Clout, Peter Oliver, Daniel Bourke, Claire Thomas, Peta Elliotte-Green, and Jason Taylor. The show's hosts will be Lee Mayne, David Gray, and Lynda Rennie, with musical direction by Kieran Norman and Andrew Trigg, and lighting design by David Smith and Barry Renshaw.

Like other theatre companies, Brunker Community Theatre had to cancel seasons of most of its programmed shows, so when the restrictions began to ease its managers asked performers from this year's postponed shows if they would take part in a short end-of-year event. And the actors had no hesitation in doing that.

The show was inspired by an American improvisational comedy television show, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, which was very popular with viewers.

It had a panel of four performers who created characters, scenes and songs on the spot.

One of the Brunker show's producers, Amanda Woolford, noted that Improv would provide some laughter and fun, "and isn't that what we all need now?".

Improva-rama will have 8pm shows on Friday and Saturday between November 5 and 20, plus 2pm Sunday matinees on November 7 and 14.

Tickets are $25 and can be booked by emailing brunkertheatre@gmail.com or ringing 0412 797 395.

Like past Play Dates, Time and Space, which will have at least two performances at Newcastle Theatre Company's Lambton venue on Saturday, November 6, has the writers using the subject in very different ways.

And the show's popularity, with its 2pm and 8pm shows close to sold out, has Knock And Run looking at a third session on the date.

The 10 plays are: The Play About Time and Space, written and directed by Jo Ford; 33 Years, written by William Cesista and directed by Elyh Tarran; Why I Love The Moon, written by Nyah Le and Ashleigh Henderson, from a story by Yasmin Oliveria-Couper; Life After Football, written by Ethan Andrews; Holiday Scott And His Adventures Through Time & Space, written by Ethan Dale; Overdue, written by Luka McCallum; The Opportunist, written and directed by Dez Robertson; The Aubergine, written by Olivia Jubb and Tom Coyne; Does The Means Justify The Ends?, written by Mark Konik; Grey Old Man, written by Maddie Baillie and Anthony Morris, directed by Maddie Bailey.

The Play About Time and Space, was, in Jo Ford's words, "written with the intention of creating the worst possible play about the theme time and space".

33 Years reveals that Noah Owens is dead and is now being judged in the court of the afterlife, where he must relive his most heart-breaking moments as he tries to justify his most sinful act and come to terms with his wife's death.

Why I Love The Moon follows the story of Hinata, a 17-year-old girl who is consumed by the anxieties of growing up, with the play exploring her complicated relationship with time and its effects (represented by the moon).

Life After Football has an ageing rugby league player forced to confront the climate crisis and acknowledge the limitations of his own talent. As his playing career's end approaches and his father grows sicker each day, he does something he really doesn't want to do.

Holiday Scott And His Adventures Through Time & Space notes that due to the death of Jess' father, her friends have agreed to play a game of "Holiday Scott and his Adventures through Time and Space", something they haven't played since they were kids, but not everyone is fully on board.

Overdue is set in a desolate empty car park, with the only light the flickering beams of a broken street lamp. Robert, who is there, is a hopeless romantic stuck in nostalgia while Celeste, who he is attracted to, is a realist stuck in her relationship.

The Opportunist is a light-hearted look at missed opportunities revisited.

The Aubergine has two beings come to form in an unknown, idealistic place. Through learning, they discover free will. But they have a main challenge. An eggplant.

In Does The Means Justify The Ends? Julie is having an existential crisis - she think it's the end - what she doesn't realize is that she's actually on Australia's favourite new game show.

Grey Old Man has an old man, with the inability unable to speak, falling from a rain-filled sky and landing in a drought stricken terrain where a young boy is desperately digging for water. The old man attempts to warn the child about the potential danger, but the boy finds the prospect of rain exciting.

Tickets are $25 and can be booked by ringing 4952 4958, or emailing newrep@bigpond.net.au.

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