ŻiguŻajg Festival

The 2021 edition of ŻiguŻajg Festival was a hybrid festival with 7 digital productions and 7 live shows/activities. Both programmes incorporated an array of genres and collaborations. These include an art exhibition titled Past Continuous in collaboration with artist Alex Urso and organisation Magna Żmien, dance performances such as Phora XS in collaboration with Moveo Dance Company and Scarab and the Dung Beetle in collaboration with Żugrara Dance, original musicals such as Rapunzella in collaboration with The New Theatre Company, and Polly & Esther, theatre performances including Automaniancs in collaboration with Opening Doors, 2044, cinema screenings and an animation on the history of St James Cavalier called Għidli Ħolma. 

The programme included a  collaboration with Teatru Manoel and Toi Toi as part of this year’s programme with an opera for children titled The Magic Baton, while a partnership with the China Cultural Centre led to a digital production being part of the international programme for this year. The film Wolfwalkers was included to be part of the ŻiguŻajg Festival programme and this was screened at Spazju Kreattiv Cinema.

Schools were given online access to the digital programme of ŻiguŻajg once again following their success last year. Many schools applauded the digital programme increasing accessibility to the Festival considering that school outings were still not being permitted.

ŻiguŻajg became an Autism Friendly Space in 2021 offering a range of sensory-friendly performances throughout the year. Through research carried out and in close consultation with Prisms Organisation, ŻiguŻajg managed to create this experience just the same. A set of guidelines were prepared for performers and a workshop with Prisms was organised for the performers and for the Festival Assistants to be better equipped for the sensory friendly runs. A small investment was also made on purchasing adequate seating and fidget toys to create chillout areas.

For the festival, four projects out of six had one sensory friendly performance assigned. This meant that the performance had changes made to lights and sound, a chill-out area with fidget toys, an open door policy and a social story guide. 

Spearheaded by Fondazzjoni Kreattività, ŻiguŻajg continues to raise the standard of artistic excellence in Malta, adding to its ever-growing audience both locally and internationally and its focus on championing the creative arts within a child’s development putting them in the helm of their own artistic journeys. 



14

projects

7

online performances

0

performers

0

streams

9

day programme

13

maltese productions

1

international productions

4

commisions

6

co-productions

2

webinars

6

sensory friendly performances

12

creative forms

ProjectTitleStart DateEnd DateNumber of Performances/WorkshopsNumber of Cancelled Performances due to Covid-19Language Venue/sCreative Team/Distributors
November
Kids Dig Science at Science in the CityKids Dig Science at Science in the City2021-09-25 00:00:002022-04-03 00:00:0013EnglishStudio BKaren Fiorini, Sean Briffa u Jeremy Grech
ŻiguŻajg Festival (Live Events)Where are you Toby?2021-11-20 00:00:002021-11-28 00:00:0010EnglishSpazju Kreattiv TheatreWriter, Composer & Performer: Analise Mifsud
Set Design, Sound & Production: Mirko Galea
Shadow Puppetier & Actor: Bernard Zammit
Set Construction & Props: Rayvin Galea
Light, Automations & Interactive Elements: Toni Gialanze
ŻiguŻajg Festival (Live Events)Automaniacs2021-11-20 00:00:002021-11-28 00:00:0051Non VerbalPrim Aula, Valletta CampusArt Director & Choreographer: Douglas Comley
Production: Sandra Mifsud
Performers: Angela Bettoni, Benji Cachia, Matthias Camilleri, Peter Fenech, Maria Gauci, Julienne Schembri, Justin Spiteri and Sarah Vella
ŻiguŻajg Festival (Live Events)The Little Prince2021-11-20 00:00:002021-11-28 00:00:009EnglishValletta Campus TheatreDirector: Chris Gatt
Cast: Jes Camilleri, Charlotte Grech, Liliana Portelli, Paul Portelli, Pierre Stafrace
ŻiguŻajg Festival (Live Events)L-Aħħar Siġra2021-11-20 00:00:002021-11-28 00:00:009MalteseSpazju Kreattiv TheatreCo-Writers: Benjamin Abela & Steffie Weenink
Co-Directors: Benjamin Abela & Brendon Thearle
Co-Production Managers: Nikki Demajo Albanese & Gianluca Mifsud
Accessibility: Annalise Ebejer
Accessibility Assistant: Robyn Vella
Dramaturg: Robyn Vella
Sound Design & Composition: Mark Ciantar & Gianluca Mifsud
Set Design: Samuel Ciantar
Set Construction: Andrew Micallef
Light Design: Gianluca Bianco
Costume Design: Mikaela Vella
Mentor: Jean-Marc Cafa’

Cast:
Alessia Buontempo, Kristina Catania, Clint Chircop, Mark Ciantar, Myron Ellul & Daniela Grech
ŻiguŻajg Festival (Live Events)Past Continuous2021-11-05 00:00:002021-12-05 00:00:005EnglishSpace A, Spazju Kreattiv (Exhibition) Atrium, Spazju Kreattiv (Workshops)Artist: Alex Urso
Sound: Yasmin Kuymizakis
Curator: Margerita Pulè
Archival Support: Andrew Alamango, Andrew Pace
ŻiguŻajg Festival (Live Events)20442021-11-20 00:00:002021-11-28 00:00:009EnglishThetru ManoelWriter & Director: Vikesh Godhwani
Production Design: Bloc
Light Design: Dorian Mallia
Sound Design: Matteo Depares
Production Manager: Ann-Marie Camilleri
Cast: Tina Rizzo, Malcolm Galea, Isabel Warrington, Anton Saliba
ŻiguŻajg Festival (Live Events)Wolfwalkers2021-11-20 00:00:002021-11-28 00:00:004EnglishSpazju Kreattiv CinemaDirector: Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart
Producer: Paul Young, Nora Twomey, Tomm Moore, Stephan Roelants
Screenwriter: Will Collins
Editor (cut): Darragh Byrne, Richie Cody, Darren T. Holmes
Sound Design: Alexandre Fleurant
Origin Score: Bruno Coulais
Main cast:
Honor Kneafsey (Robyn Goodfellowe), Eva Whittaker (Mebh Óg MacTíre)
ŻiguŻajg Festival (Digital Events)Polly & Esther2021-11-20 00:00:002021-11-28 00:00:00EnglishOn demandDirector: Chiara Hyzler
Performers: Sandie von Brockdorff & Nicola Azzopardi
Stage Manager: Lisa Mifsud Bonnici
Set Designer and Production: Mattea Fenech
Musical Composer: Luke Saydon
ŻiguŻajg Festival (Digital Events)Scarab the Dung Beetle2021-11-20 00:00:002021-11-28 00:00:00EnglishOn demandArtistic Direction: Zugraga Dance Organisation
Choreography: Patsy Chetcuti & Gaby Davies of Zugraga Dance Organisation
Dancers: Luke Cassar as Mr. O’Toole, Patsy Chetcuti as Mita, Gaby Davies as Scarab, Luisa Fenech Conti as Woody, Katherine Green as Ali, Pamela Kerr as Lily & Julia Lundberg as Milli
Writer & Mindfulness Workshop Co-ordinator: Rebecca Una Sultana
Narration: Anita Foley
Set Designer and Creator: Adrian Mamo
Costumes: Gaetano Deguara
Makeup: Kim Deguara
ŻiguŻajg Festival (Digital Events)Għidli Ħolma2021-11-20 00:00:002021-11-28 00:00:00MalteseOn demandToontuloon:
Neil Zammit
Jean-Pierre Debattista
Simona Fazioli
Michele Benincasa
Maxine Caruana


Cast and Crew:
Carlos Farrugia
Jamie Mifsud
Patrick Vella
Sam Chetcuti
Jimmy Bartolo
Cassi Camilleri
ŻiguŻajg Festival (Digital Events)The Magic Baton2021-11-20 00:00:002021-11-28 00:00:00EnglishOn demandDirector & Book: Petra Sant
Creative Producer & Book: Kate Fenech Field
Conductor: Riccardo Bianchi
Composer: Veronique Vella
Costume & Digital Design: Isabel Warrington
Stage Manager & Props: Nicole Sciberras
Cast: Dorothy Bezzina, Cliff Zammit Stevens, Miguel Rosales, Francesca Aquilina, Giles Rooney
ŻiguŻajg Festival (Digital Events)Phora 10XS2021-11-20 00:00:002021-11-28 00:00:00Non VerbalOn demandArtistic Direction/Choreography: Dorian Mallia
Music Composition: Albert Garzia
Script and Narration: Erica Muscat
Headdresses: Dorian Mallia
Light Design: Dorian Mallia
Set Design: Dorian Mallia
Stage Manager: Annalisa Schembri
Set Construction: Claudio Apap
Costumes: Doris Mallia
Dancers: Diane Portelli, Elena Bickle, Gabriele Farinacci, Cindelle Bouard, Charlotte Carpentier, Francisco Camarneiro
ŻiguŻajg Festival (Digital Events)Rapunzella2021-11-20 00:00:002021-11-28 00:00:00EnglishOn demandRapunzella: Denise Mercieca
Pippa: Marilyn Aquilina

Writer & Director: Neil Grima
Music & Lyrics: Matteo Depares
Set Design & Project Manager: Maxine Buttigieg Belli
Dramaturg: Eliza Aquilina
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022The Gruffalo2022-12-19 00:00:001EnglishSpazju Kreattiv CinemaCreated by: Magic Light Pictures Ltd
Creative Team:
Director & Writer: Jakob Schuh
Director & Writer/Adaptor: Max Lang
Producers: Michael Rose & Martin Pope
Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Alex Scheffler

Cast:
Mother Squirrel: Helena Bonham Carter
Snake: Rob Brydon
Gruffalo: Robbie Coltrane
Mouse: James Corden
Gruffalo’s Child: Shirley Henderson
Owl: John Hurt
Fox: Tom Wilkinson
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022Marona’s Fantastic Tale2021-12-23 00:00:002022-01-02 00:00:003French (with English Subtitles)Spazju Kreattiv CinemaCreative Team:
Director: Anca Damian
Writers: Anghel Damian & Anca Damian In collaboration with Alliance Française de Malte-Méditerranée and France Malta.
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022Zog2021-12-26 00:00:001EnglishSpazju Kreattiv CinemaCreated by: Magic Light Pictures Ltd
Creative Team:
Director: Max Lang
Producers: Micahel Rose & Martin Pope
Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Alex Scheffler
Cast:
Princess Pear: Patsy Ferran
Narrator: Sir Lenny Henry
Zog: Hugh Skinner
Madame Dragon: Tracey Ullman
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022Solitary Bee2022-01-21 00:00:002022-01-23 00:00:005EnglishStudio A, Spazju Kreattiv & EsploraEsplora & Green House
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022Calamity2022-01-30 00:00:001French (with English Subtitles)Spazju Kreattiv CinemaCreative Team
Director: Rémi Chayé
Cast: Salomé Boulven, Alexandra Lamy & Jochen Hägele In collaboration with Alliance Française de Malte-Méditerranée and France Malta.
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022Little Moods2022-02-11 00:00:002022-02-13 00:00:006EnglishStudio A, Spazju KreattivCast & Creative Team:
Music: Alex Vella Gregory
Direction: Joseph Galea
Performers: Maria Galea Farrugia, Ryan Mark Debattists & Martina Galea Loffreda
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022Room on the Broom2022-02-20 00:00:001EnglishSpazju Kreattiv CinemaCreated by: Magic Light Pictures LtdCreative Team:Director: Max Lang & Jakob SchuhProducers: Michael Rose & Martin PopeAuthor: Julia DonaldsonIllustrator: Alex SchefflerCast:Witch: Gillian AndersonCat: Rob BrydonDragon: Timothy SpallDog: Martin ClunesBird: Sally HawkinsFrog: David Walliams
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022The Highway Rat2022-03-13 00:00:001EnglishSpazju Kreattiv CinemaDirector: Jeroen Jaspaert
Producer: Michael Rose
Producer: Martin Pope
Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Alex Scheffler

Cast:
Narrator: Rob Brydon
Rabbit: Frances De La Tour
Duck: Nina Sosanya
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022Fab Fantasy Fables with Chucky2022-03-18 00:00:002022-03-20 00:00:005EnglishStudio A, Spazju KreattivWritten & Directed: Vikesh Godhwani
Performed: Chucky Bartolo
Designed: Bloc
Illustrations: Emma Galea Naudi
Light & Sound Design: Vikesh Godhwani and Chucky Bartolo
Costume and Make Up: Chucky Bartolo
Video Design by Chucky Bartolo
Stage Management by Ann Marie Camilleri
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022Raining Cats and Frogs2022-03-27 00:00:001French (with English Subtitles)Spazju Kreattiv CinemaCreative Team:
Director: Jacques- Rémy Girerd In collaboration with Alliance Française de Malte-Méditerranée and France Malta.
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022Ninni Ninni2022-04-15 00:00:002022-04-17 00:00:005MultilingualStudio A, Spazju KreattivCurator, Co-Writer & Vocalist: Christian Debono
Drummer: Luke Briffa
Bassist: Oliver Degabriele
Guitarist: Warren Galea
Director of Animation & Co-WriterInez: Kristina Baldacchino
AnimatorMagda: Azab
AnimatorIsabelle: Bernard Thulstrup
Additional Animation: Jesper Andkjær Poulsgærd
Production Coordinator: Ann-Marie Camilleri
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022Zog & The Flying Dotors2022-05-01 00:00:001EnglishSpazju Kreattiv CinemaDirector: Sean Mullen
Producer: Martin Pope
Producer: Michael Rose
Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Alex Scheffler

Princess Pearl: Patsy Ferran
Narrator: Sir Lenny Henry
Zog: Hugh Skinner
Sir Gadabout: Daniel Ings
King: Rob Brydon
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022Hall of Frames2022-05-20 00:00:002022-05-22 00:00:005EnglishStudio A, Spazju KreattivDancers: Elise Ellul, Althea Palobi Corlett, Julienne Schembri & Natasha Nikolic
Animation & Sound Effects:Aaron Zarb
Choreographer: Yosef Farrugia (in collaboration with the dancers)
Dramaturgy: Simone Spiteri
Sound & Lighting Technician: Kirsten Risiott
Music: Ralf Hildernbeutel
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022The Bears Famous Invasion of Sicily2022-05-29 00:00:001French (with English Subtitles)Spazju Kreattiv CinemaCreative Team:
Director: Lorenzo Mattonti
In collaboration with Alliance Française de Malte-Méditerranée and France Malta.
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022Where are you Toby?2022-06-17 00:00:002022-06-19 00:00:005EnglishStudio A, Spazju KreattivWriter, Composer & Music Performer: Analise Mifsud
Set Design, Sound & Production: Mirko Galea
Puppeteer & Actor: Bernard Zammit
Set Construction & Props: Rayvin Galea
Lights, Automations & Interactive Elements: Toni Gialanze
ŻiguŻajg Season 2021-2022The Snail and The Whale2022-06-05 00:00:001EnglishSpazju Kreattiv CinemaDirector: Max Lang
Director: Daniel Snaddon
Producer: Michael Rose
Producer: Martin Pope
Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Alex Scheffler

Cast:
Rob Brydon
Sally Hawkins
Dame Dianna Rigg