Performing Arts
The 2021 | 2022 theatre season was filled to the brim with exciting new writings, restaged productions and a taste of international theatre.
In total, six writers were engaged to create four new pieces of writing. Spazju Kreattiv’s theatre season opened last October with the much-anticipated play Taralalla penned by award-winning writer Lara Calleja. Taralalla, a commissioned play by Spazju Kreattiv, which had to be postponed from earlier in the year due to Covid, delved into themes of tradition, death and nostalgia, interlaced with the emotions of hope, anger and humanity.
To commemorate International Women’s Day, Simone Spiteri, Lara Calleja and Chiara Hyzler were commissioned to write three monologues based on female human stories in the face of misogyny, and ageism, and getting to know about what it means to ‘come out’. Her Say treated real stories not often talked about in local theatre, not just for women, but for anyone with an interest in the human psyche and relationships in our world. Produced and directed by Charlotte Grech, this commission was headlined by actors Monica Attard, Michela Farrugia and Angele Galea.
And lastly, Aleks Farrugia was commissioned to write a play titled Ġiraffa Ħarbet minn Kastilja which formally closed the theatre season commissions for Spazju Kreattiv this year. Directed by Daniel Azzopardi, the political satire delved deep into what constitutes Malta’s national identity, the mechanics of public perception and the systematic dispersion of news.
The performing arts programme also saw a number of collaborations; with Opening Doors, Is-Siġra tat-Tin staged in November and in May, brought to the forefront the potential of having a mixed ability ensemble.
In February, in collaboration with TakeTwo – led by Carlos Debattista and Abigail Mallia – the book Castillo by Clare Azzopardi was adapted to the stage. With its premiere sold out, this production delved into Malta’s recent political turmoil by intermeshing past and present timelines, revealing a pointed reflection on Maltese society through the protagonist’s personal journey.
A project in collaboration with Studio 18 and commissioned by Aġenzija ŻgħaŻagħ was devised for Sixth Forms. In total, Thirst Trap toured five colleges around Malta and Gozo, and followed up with workshops on the themes tackled in this production. The culmination of this tour ended in a private performance at Spazju Kreattiv with all the respective stakeholders.
Following its tour in the United Kingdom, the internationally acclaimed The Nobodies, winner of the Premju għall-Arti for Best International Achievement and other UK awards, made its way to Malta under the direction of Vikesh Godhwani and produced by Chalk Line Theatre Company. Set in a northern town in the UK, where the economic crisis is heavily affecting the community’s quality of life, the play asks if the end justifies the means, where the lines are drawn, and what it takes to enact real change, Later, throughout the year, we saw other productions make their way into our theatre including the staging of Stef Smith’s Girl in the Machine, directed Michael Richardson, with a script set in a dystopian reality which explores our potential digital future, and what it might mean for ‘life’ as we know it .
During the Carnival months, in collaboration with Festivals Malta, saw the staging for the first time of Il-Qarċilla in the intimate theatre of Spazju Kreattiv. During Easter, following a postponement of two years due to the pandemic, the awaited production of VARI by Trevor Zahra saw its opening to full houses .
Long-term collaborations with the creative teams of MalTease and Adult Panto continued with renewed versions of their annual productions. Later in the season, Malcolm Galea starred in the restaging of his work 0.0031% before its run at the Brighton Fringe where it got the Brighton Fringe Best Newcomer Award.
As apart of the strategy to engage new audiences, Spazju Kreattiv programmed the reruns of the popular Rediffusion Jippreżenta… and Il-Klus ta’ Klews which were well attended by residents in elderly homes and elderly people from community centres in Malta and Gozo.
As part of the organisation’s remit to nurture new people, this season saw the start of a mentorship programme in collaboration with Studio 18, which saw 7 participants receiving tutorship in theatre production aspects by professionals while also be part of a number of projects programmed as part of the Spazju Kreattiv programme.
99
performances
15
PRODUCTIONS
9
Taħdita Teatru
| Title | Start Date | End Date | Number of Performances | Language | Venue/s | Creative Team | Collaborators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | |||||||
| The Nobodies | 2021-09-13 00:00:00 | 2021-09-19 00:00:00 | 6 | English | Theatre | Cast: David Angland, Lucy Simpson, Joseph Reed Produced by Chalk Line Theatre Written by Amy Guyler Co-directed by Sam Edmunds and Vikesh Godhwani Designed by Becca White Sound Design by Mekel Edwards Lighting Design by Alan Walden | Arts Council England, COMMON, Pleasance Theatre, Camden People’s Theatre, The New Diorama and The Lion and Unicorn Theatre |
| Is-Siġra tat-Tin | 2021-09-27 00:00:00 | 2021-10-03 00:00:00 | 3 | N/A | Theatre | Director: Toni Attard Author: Simone Spiteri in collaboration with artists from Opening Doors Performers: Cheyenne Aquilina, Caroline Bajada, Angela Bettoni, Sharon Bezzina, Denise Camilleri, Kurt Castillo, Peter Fenech, Benjamin Grech, Sarah Micallef, Jacob Piccinino, Justin Spiteri & Mark Zammit Cutajar Production coordinator, props and assistant stage manager: Anne Marie Camilleri Scenography: Romualdo Moretti Lights design: Chris Gatt Sound design: Michael Quinton Stage Manager: Annalisa Schembri Set Construction: Claudio Apap Production: Opening Doors Association | Arts Council Malta, Culture Venture, Opening Doors, University of Malta, AMASS, Udjenza, The Farsons Foundation |
| Eyes to Argus – ‘in habit’ | Live | 2021-10-08 00:00:00 | 2021-10-09 00:00:00 | 2 | N/A | Theatre | Samwel Mallia (Bandmember, Design Consultant) Ben Mifsud Joslin (Bandmember, Content Consultant) Samuel Attard (Bandmember, Sound Consultant) Robert Farrugia (Bandmember, Networking Consultant) Toni Gialanze (Stage and Lights Design + Operator) Sergio Costa (Soundman) Aidan Somers (Opening Act, Solo) Owen Caruana (Opening Act, Bennie Blue) Andrew Debono (Opening Act, Bennie Blue) Daniel Ellul (Opening Act, Bennie Blue) Hadrien Meilleur (Opening Act, Bennie Blue) | |
| Taralalla | 2021-10-25 00:00:00 | 2021-11-07 00:00:00 | 7 | Maltese | Theatre | Script: Lara Calleja Director: Lee-N Abela Performers: Christopher Spiteri, Toni Busuttil, Lilian Pace Vassallo, Sarah Camilleri, Clive Piscopo & Mark Laurence Zammit Set Design: Romualdo Moretti Set Construction: Claudio Apap Sound Design: Michael Quinton Light Design: Christopher Gatt Production Manager: Steve Cilia ASM: Noelle Borg | |
| MPO Concert 1 | 2021-10-27 00:00:00 | – | 1 | N/A | Studio B | Jenny Melville: Oboe & Cor Anglais Inmaculada Muñoz Salgüero: Violin Mateusz Kùzma: Viola Yaroslav Miklukho: Cello Julia Miller: Piano | Malta Philharmonic Orchestra |
| Brodu – Bambinella | 2021-11-12 00:00:00 | 2021-11-14 00:00:00 | 4 | N/A | Theatre | Brodu: Mark Abela, Andrew Micallef, Chris Mallia, Samuel Attard, Frederick Abdilla, Fiona Camilleri, Noemi Deulofeu Blanch, Audrey Mifsud, Eleonor Mifsud Is-Suffarin: Adolf Formosa Bainmarie: Samuel Falzon, Samuel Grima, Samuel Bonello, Rafel Grima Sound Engineer: Sergio Costa | |
| Rediffusion jippreżenta… | 2021-11-12 00:00:00 | 2021-11-14 00:00:00 | 3 | Maltese | Studio B | Cast: Leigh Anne Abela, Henry Zammit Cordina, Charles Falzon, Carlos Farrugia, Rachelle Micallef, Chris Grech & Aaron Fenech Direction and Production: Joseph Galea Script: Trevor Zahra Research: Toni Sant | |
| KorMalta – Concert 1 | 2021-11-26 00:00:00 | – | 1 | N/A | Studio B | ||
| Girl in the Machine | 2021-12-03 00:00:00 | 2021-12-12 00:00:00 | 6 | English | Theatre | Michael Richardson – Producer and Director Isabel Warrington – Designer Matthew Gellel – Lighting Designer Matteo Depares – Sound designer (music) Alec Massa – Sound designer (voice) Lisa Baldacchino – Production stage manager Nicole Sciberras – Assistant stage manager Ella Manduca – Actor Tina Rizzo – Actor Gianni Selvaggi – Actor | |
| KorMalta – Concert 2 (Xmas Special) | 2021-12-18 00:00:00 | 2021-12-19 00:00:00 | 2 | N/A | Atrium | Kor Malta | |
| Skald | 2022-01-28 00:00:00 | 2022-01-29 00:00:00 | 2 | N/A | Theatre | ||
| Castillo | 2022-02-11 00:00:00 | 2022-02-20 00:00:00 | 7 | Maltese | Theatre | Cast: Simone Spiteri as Emma (80s) Simone Zammit as Emma (Present) Rachel Genovese as Cathy Analise Mifsud as Amanda Francesca Scerri as ANNE (80s) Frida Cauchi as ANNE (Present) Daniela Carabott Pawley as GINA (80s + Present) Mark Doneo as Castillo Andre Mangion as Matteo | Take Two, Arts Council Malta |
| Il-Qarċilla | 2022-02-25 00:00:00 | 2022-02-27 00:00:00 | 3 | Maltese | Theatre | CAST Nutar Gużi Loffreda – Matthew Balzan Tabib Dr. J.P. Zammit – Patrick Tanti Perit Frankie Concrete – Fabio Mifsud Spettur Klin De Chanteclair – Sandro Vella Benji-K – Karl Schembri Krista-Lina – Rachel Micallef Rev. Johnny Bendu – Nathaniel Galea Mattea Grech – Maria Galea Farrugia Darren Callus – Ryan Galea Wendy Termos – Stephanie Sacco MUSICIANS Albert Garzia (Accordion) Kim Mercieca (Saxophone) Matthew Vella (Percussion) CREW Script – Ċikku l-Poplu Producer and Director – Joseph Galea Assistant Producer – Svetlana Camilleri Musical Arrangements – Albert Garzia Costumes – Louie Noir / Marika Zarb Touch ups – Make up by Dea / Deandra Bugeja Stage Manager/props – Michael Carol Bartolo Light Design – Fabio Mifsud | Festivals Malta |
| MPO Series – Concert 2 | 2022-02-23 00:00:00 | – | 1 | N/A | Studio B | Malta Philarmonic Orchestra | |
| Thirst Trap | 2022-03-01 00:00:00 | 2022-03-12 00:00:00 | 6 | English | Schools & Studio A | Director: Philip Leone Ganado Actors: Lara Agius, Denise Perini, Alex Weenink & Gianluca Mifsud | Studio 18, Aġenżija Żgħażagħ |
| Her Say | 2022-03-11 00:00:00 | 2022-02-13 00:00:00 | 3 | English/Maltese | Theatre | Direction and Production: Charlotte Grech Lights: Christopher Gatt Playwrights : Simone Spiteri, Lara Calleja and Chiara Hyzler Actresses: Monica Attard, Michela Farrugia and Angele Galea | |
| KorMalta – Concert 3 -Buxtehude – Membra Jesu Nostri | 2022-03-25 00:00:00 | – | 1 | N/A | Studio B | Kor Malta, Malta School of Arts | |
| NUTRICULA / Impossible actions | 2022-04-08 00:00:00 | – | 1 | N/A | Studio A | Performed by: Diellza Ilgner (DE) Hayden Grima (MLT) Mohamed Ali (Dali) Aguerbi (TN/MLT) Masha Shamin (RU/FR/) Rachelle (REA) Deguara (MLT) Rochelle Gatt (MLT) | |
| Songcraft 2022 | 2022-04-01 00:00:00 | – | 1 | Maltese | Thetare | Participants: Emma Cutajar Lexi De Martino Eliana Gomez Blanco Hannah Angelone Angela Bonett Miguel Bonello | Aġenżija Żgħażagħ |
| VARI | 2022-04-08 00:00:00 | 2022-04-16 00:00:00 | 7 | Maltese | Theatre | Script – Trevor Zahra Production & Direction – Joseph Galea & Carlos Farrugia Cast – Joseph Galea , Carlos Farrugia, Grecia Bezzina, Christine Francalanza, Petra Camilleri & Alexia Micallef Music Director – Alex Vella Gregory Projections – Mad About Video Lights Design – Adrian D. Bartolo Technical Operators – Ryan Galea & Holger Camilleri Stage Manager – Marjana Saliba Props Manager – John Vassallo Make-up – Agnes Pace Costumes – Carmen Zammit & Carolyne Portelli | |
| 0.0031 % | 2022-04-22 00:00:00 | 2022-04-24 00:00:00 | 3 | English | Studio B | Written: Malcolm Galea Directed: Denise Mulholland Starring: Malcolm Galea | |
| MalTease | 2022-04-29 00:00:00 | 2022-05-01 00:00:00 | 3 | N/A | Theatre | Undine LaVerve – Producer, Creative Director and performer Henk Wolswijk – Resident singer and sound engineer Colin Fitz – host / MC Larissa – Resident Singer Gwilym Bugeja – Magic Alice Wolswijk – performer Bella Stardust – Burlesque performer Mabel Moonshine – Burlesque Performer BAM beauties – Lilithia Rose, Phage Nefarious, Queen of DeNile, WonderV, La Senorita Italiana, Miss Cravin Moore and more… Foreign artists: FrouFrou D’Absinth – Burlesque performer (Paris, France) Lilly Mortis – Burlesque performer (Berlin, Germany) Lolita VaVoom – Burlesque performer (Germany / USA) John Celestus – Boylesque performer (London, UK) | |
| Ġiraffa Ħarbet minn Kastilja | 2022-05-13 00:00:00 | 2022-05-22 00:00:00 | 7 | Maltese | Theatre | Cast: Prime Minister – Peter Galea Assistant – Marjann Attard Police Commissioner – Karl Schembri Minister for Foreign Affairs – Anthony Ellul Journalist 1 – Charlotte Formosa Journalist 2 – Miguel Formosa Journalist 3 – Jacob Piccinino Giraffe – Antonella Axisa Creative team: Director – Daniel Azzopardi Playwright – Aleks Farrugia Lights Design – Christopher Gatt Sound Design – Michael Quinton Set Design & Construction – Romualdo Moretti & Claudio Apap Animation Artist – Jonathan Caruana Movement Choreographer – Christian Scerri Make-up & Hair Artist – Krista Zammit Marmara Costumist – Nicole Cuschieri ASM & Production Assistant – Ann-Marie Camilleri Intimacy Director – Simone Ellul | |
| MPO Concert 3 | 2022-05-11 00:00:00 | – | 1 | N/A | Studio B | Malta Philarmonic Orchestra | |
| KorMalta – Concert 4 | 2022-05-27 00:00:00 | – | 1 | N/A | Studio B | ||
| Is-Sigra Tat-Tin (rerun) | 2022-06-03 00:00:00 | 2022-06-05 00:00:00 | 3 | N/A | Theatre | Director: Toni Attard Author: Simone Spiteri in collaboration with artists from Opening Doors Performers: Cheyenne Aquilina, Caroline Bajada, Angela Bettoni, Sharon Bezzina, Denise Camilleri, Kurt Castillo, Peter Fenech, Benjamin Grech, Sarah Micallef, Jacob Piccinino, Justin Spiteri & Mark Zammit Cutajar Production coordinator, props and assistant stage manager: Anne Marie Camilleri Scenography: Romualdo Moretti Lights design: Chris Gatt Sound design: Michael Quinton Stage Manager: Annalisa Schembri Set Construction: Claudio Apap Production: Opening Doors Association | Arts Council Malta, Culture Venture, Opening Doors, University of Malta, AMASS, Udjenza, The Farsons Foundation |
| Snow White – Adult Panto | 2022-06-17 00:00:00 | 2022-07-03 00:00:00 | 9 | English | Theatre | Cast: Malcolm Galea – Dame Naomi Knight – Snow White Audrey Scerri – Evil Queen James Ryder – Narrator + All the little ones Joe Depasquale – Bert (Principal boy) Rambert Attard – Magic Mirror Undine LaVerve – Fairy Godmother Steve Hili as Steve Hili Creative team: Micheal Fenech – Producer Steve Hili – Writer/ Director Mariella Muscat – Make Up Jean Theuma – Costumes Chris Gatt – Lights | |
| Il-Klus ta’ Clews | 2022-06-24 00:00:00 | 2022-06-26 00:00:00 | 3 | Malti | Studio B | Original Scripts & Songs (Makjetti) – Charles Clews Script Adaptation – Trevor Zahra Director / Producer – Joseph Galea Musical Arrangements – Alex Vella Gregory Actors – Joe Farrugia (Id-dulli); Mario Spiteri (Snits); Antonella Galea Loffreda; Joseph Galea Pianist – Alex Vella Gregory | |
| Kisbiet Minsija | 2022-06-22 00:00:00 | 2022-06-23 00:00:00 | 2 | Malta | Studio A | Annalise Ebejer- Producer, Project Leader, Accessibility Officer Nicholas Gambin- Co Producer, director, stage manager Lara Aguis- Co Producer, director Robyn Vella- Actor Daniela Grech- Actor | Eastern Regional Council, Gasan Mamo & Farsons |
| Dance Festival Malta | 2022-07-28 00:00:00 | 2022-08-01 00:00:00 | N/A | Theatre & Studio A |
music
The Music Series made its return for a second year with season-long events with KorMalta and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. In both cases, audiences were entertained to a rich repertoire of classic and modern music by foremost local and international composers.
Building on the previous season’s success, the 2021|22 programme encapsulated a number of concerts by alternative music bands who performed some of their best hits as well as new material. Collaborations featured local bands Eyes to Argus with their album in habit, Brodu, which were awarded the Premju għall-Arti for Best Artists of the Year for their work on the music compositions on Blu and Bambinella, and Skald.
There was also the third edition of Songcraft, a mentorship programme for young singer-songwriters, held in collaboration with Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, with six young talented singer-songwriters aged 16 – 20. Bettina Muchmore, Alex Alden and Matthew James mentored the six participants, and this project culminated in a live concert, bringing their original work from page to stage, performing at Spazju Kreattiv to a live audience.
8
performances
4
concerts
1
festival
Dance
Between April and June, we hosted a series of workshops with ŻfinMalta entitled Developing Dramaturgical Skills – Critical Chapters in Creative Processes which focused on discovering the tools of dramaturgical practice, with particular emphasis on the word ‘practice’, starting from: “Why do we need a dance dramaturg?”. The sessions were led by foremost international professionals with local practitioners with different creative backgrounds in attendance.
This was followed with our collaboration with Festivals Malta on the first edition of the Malta Dance Festival in July. The event originated as a private initiative by three dance practitioners who wished to develop an annual dance platform aimed at providing opportunities for local and international artists to showcase their work and expose local audiences to original dance works.
WIthin such a framework, Spazju Kreattiv continues to strive in creating more opportunities within the performing arts strand, and in so doing create more creative exchanges with different local and international collaborators.