Mr Azzopardi has been a theatre-lover from an early age. At the age of nine, he was doing English plays on the Rediffusion, followed by school plays and drama festival competitions. In the early 70’s, he joined the MADC and did his first Shakespeare in San Anton Gardens… and the rest is history.
“I feel very proud when on the opening night of any show, I see the results of all the hard work and planning which go into each and every production, and feel that the journey was worth it,” he smiles.
Mr Azzopardi explains that the MADC’s next theatrical season offers a diverse array of quality productions.
First up is the MADC ‘One Act Play Festival’ which gives aspiring young actors and directors the opportunity to show their talents to a live audience in a competitive atmosphere. This will take place at the MADC clubrooms in Santa Venera from the 8th to the 11th September at 7.30pm. There will be four plays in this year’s edition, directed by Keith Joseph Barbara, Joe Depasquale, Benedek Forro and Gianni Grioli
Next is Jay Presson Allen’s adaptation of Muriel Spark’s ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ to be staged at the Blue Box Theatre, M Space in Msida from the 7th to the 9th and the 14th to the 16th October. It will be directed by Chiara Hyzler with Julia Calvert playing the main part.
December and January, of course, will see the annual MADC pantomime. This year Mr Azzopardi says that audiences are in for a very special surprise with an unusual magical adventure in an amazing flying machine into a world of pure fantasy. ‘Un-Believe It! The Christmas Pantomime’ will star Alan Montanaro, who also wrote the script and will be directed by Nanette Brimmer. The panto will once again be staged at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali between 22 December and 8 January.
Photo Sebio Aquilina
MADC will present a Peter Shaffer Double Bill – ‘White Liars/Black Comedy’ from 27 to 29 January and 3 to 5 February 2017 at the MADC Clubrooms. Franco Rizzo and Stephanie Zammit Borg will be directing these comedies in honour of this famous playwright who passed away earlier in the year.
In March, Oliver Goldsmith’s timeless comedy ‘She Stoops To Conquer’ will be presented, initially at the Salesian Theatre in Sliema from 17 to 19 before moving to the Manoel Theatre in Valletta from the 23rd to the 26th. Malcolm Galea will be directing this classic which was last staged by the MADC at the Manoel in February 1986 when Paul Xuereb directed it, starring Beatrice Dennis, Marylu Coppini, Edward Mercieca and Alan Montanaro.
Finally, the MADC’s Shakespeare offering this year will be ‘The Taming Of the Shrew’, directed by Polly March, which will take place at San Anton Gardens between 14 and 23 July.
Mr Azzopardi explains that the MADC is looking at the future and what direction the club should be taking so as the keep up with the ever-changing theatrical scene.
(Photo Darrin Zammit Lupi)
“We are contracted with Luke Todd and Co, a consultancy firm, to help ensure MADC’s continued relevance in the performing arts scene in Malta. The theatrical market in Malta has become very competitive and we therefore need to move with the times to ensure that we are still around in the next 100 years,” he says enthusiastically.
To this effect, this coming October, Mr. Kelly McSherry, from Luke Todd and Co, will be conducting market research with various focus groups where members and non-members will be able to express their views on the club, its production and its workings.
“I believe that the success of the Club is due to the unstinting dedication and drive of all those who volunteer to come forward to sit on the Management Committee, coupled with the talent of established directors, actors and crews that participate in their plays, as well as the beginners that come forward to benefit from the Club’s collective experience. We express our gratitude to the active members of the Club and all who have followed us on this journey,” concludes Mr Azzopardi.
More information about the MADC and its productions may be obtained from email: [email protected] or website: www.madc.com.mt, where one can also register online as a new member