At 23, Matthew Anastasi is the latest in a series of young talented hopefuls who are packing up and leaving Malta in search of their dream.

Later this year, Matthew will be going to the Guildford School of Acting Conservatoire, considered one of the top three UK colleges, to read for an MA in musical theatre.

“I’ve been involved in theatre since I was six. My first attempt was an end-of-school production singing solo at St Benild’s school, an all-boys school. I inadvertently ended up playing the part of a woman because when they were asking who wanted to take part, I put my hand up.”

With parents who are very musical, Matthew grew up listening to records by well-known composers. When he started performing in concerts and musical theatre, he admits he wasn’t yet trained, “you just go in for it really”.

In 1999 he performed in Seven Brides and Seven Brothers and then six years ago came his big break when he took part in Voices. At the age of just 16, he performed a duet with Jackie Pace Delicata, singing the Mariah Carey/Trey Lorenz version of the Jackson 5 hit I’ll Be There.

“That is the most challenging song I’ve ever done,” Matthew admits. Certainly, he stole the show night after night as he reached those impossibly high notes.

“I didn’t really expect a solo so soon, but as a high tenor, I was the only boy who auditioned for it.”

Matthew explains that once a boy’s high voice breaks, he must stop training until his voice develops, and then he can continue to train.

Gradually, he realised that singing was something he was serious about. So when he was 18, he phoned Gillian Zammit and asked if she could give him vocal training. This was straight after he had performed in Dracula Spectacula – and where Gillian had noticed his potential.

“I like singing all kinds of music, including soft rock, but my voice is most suited for musical theatre. I never went to a drama school; people just a few years younger me on the other hand, all went, and now there is point to it, because there is a future in theatre. However, I used to do short drama courses whenever I could.”

While his parents always knew that the stage was his passion, Matthew dutifully “did the right thing” and studied accounts and management.

“I got a lot of life skills from university because I was very involved in organising campus activities. I even produced a workshop for MADC. I am obsessed with the musical Rent so I contacted several people and we talked about the characters, and did a workshop about the songs. Rather than just learning technique offhanded, we did it by applying it to Rent.”

Like most performers, Matthew was working full-time at his “day job” and spending his evenings pursuing what he really loved. At one point, however, he realised that things had to change.

“I was studying for my ACCA, and one day I just went up to my mother and told her that it was not my thing. I told her I was going to quit and to apply for a performing arts college in the UK. The first thing she told me was, ‘Where are you going to get the money from?’ Eventually she got used to it and now she is quite proud about my decision. Obviously, any parent would prefer not to see their child struggle, but you have to follow your heart.”

Matthew describes his audition: “Our group was the first batch; there were 12 of us. It’s always good to audition first because a lot of it is about having the right look for what they are looking for. There were just 15 places available and three people were chosen from our group.

“When I wanted to apply, I pointed out that I didn’t have a first degree in the subject, but they told me to try out anyway and if I was up to scratch I would have a chance. My performance portfolio helped a lot. I thought I was going to be petrified, but they were very patient and warm, and gave me time to perform at my best. During auditions in Malta, unfortunately, they just stare at you and you feel that they are waiting for you to trip up. I think the difference is that abroad they want to ‘sell’ you so they try to make you as comfortable as possible.”

He agrees that choosing the right song to audition with can be difficult.

“It shouldn’t be too long, and I never choose a song which is over-played (Andrew Lloyd Webber, for example, is out). The newer and unknown it is, the better. If it is too commercial it’s off my list. The song I chose, I’ll be here, is from The Wild Party and was suggested to me by the musical director from Chicago who was here doing a workshop. It’s a combination of the right song for my voice, and my having the right look.”

Now that he knows he has been accepted, Matthew is looking for funding (“this is not a scholarship”). He needs £12 thousand sterling for the course, and £8 thousand for living expenses.

“This Masters course not only trains you artistically but it gives you an agent, they invite agents to see our showcases, and there is potential to get work even from their website. My aim is to ultimately work in musical theatre. I’ve realised that there is nothing else in my life which I want to be professional in. My career has to be something I want to do for the rest of my life.

In every other job I’ve had, I would always be figuring out how much time I had after work to do theatre, and it shouldn’t be that way.”

Matthew is looking forward to becoming a student again and, with that wonderful enthusiasm and optimism of the young, nothing is fazing him.

“If I don’t get a job performing and don’t make it in the business, I will teach. I already teach at Stagecoach and St Martin’s.

“It’s not just teaching songs, however, I also get the students to learn about the particular musical.”

He will be leaving Malta in September, as he has a job lined up in Brighton for five weeks, teaching creativity to kids.

“Lots of people have been very supportive to help me realise my dream, especially for my audition.

“To be involved in the performing arts, out of the three disciplines, you have to be very good in two, with potential in the third. Gillian has been my vocal teacher, Denise Mulholland tutored me for acting while for dancing I go to Emma Loftus.

“I remember Emma telling me, ‘a woman makes a baby in nine months, I think I can make you a dancer.’ They have all been so good to me. People like to see Maltese making it and are very generous with their time.”

You can watch Matthew Anastasi in the role of Brad in The Rocky Horror Show. It will be on at the Malta Conventions Centre, Ta’ Qali at 8pm on 10, 16, 17, 18 March. Tickets are Lm10 and are available from www.maltaticket.com or from Masquerade. Call 7979-3737. Directed by Anthony Bezzina with musical direction by Andy Reiss, this show includes a lot of audience participation and everyone is encouraged to show up in outrageous costumes…