Masquerade Theatre Arts School will be presenting the captivating new play A Year and a Day by Irish playwright Christina Reid. The play will first be performed in Malta – as part of the Youth Theatre Festival, one of the world’s largest celebrations of youth theatre – and assessed by the London National Theatre Connections.

Established 13 years ago, the National Theatre Connections programme commissions new plays for young people from some of the best contemporary playwrights, and enables schools and youth theatres from all over the UK and other countries to perform.

This year a group of 20 students from Masquerade Theatre Arts School aged 12 to 17 have embarked on an exciting journey to work on this powerful play and to be the first Maltese school to participate in the festival.

In A Year and a Day a travelling storyteller and a girl meet in a land devastated by war and famine. The storyteller remembers and conjures a long-long-ago land of peace and plenty – a beautiful garden inhabited by the Kritters of the land, the trees and the water.

But the beauty is not long-lasting and when the humans come to the garden they are divided into two tribes who worship different gods. The story of two lovers from the opposing tribes is doomed.

The storyteller’s tale of the corruption and loss of the ancient garden is a love story that becomes a never-ending story of old ghosts who still haunt the earth. As she relates the legend, the storyteller warns the girl and the audience: “Don’t be seduced by the music. Don’t look back.”

The conflict of the two tribes unfolding across the river is a reminder of the conflicts around the world which result in misery and hatred. However in exploring the various themes, the students also drew on local examples– the fervent rivalry in local politics and the village festas.

School principal Anthony Bezzina said: “This is the first time that we are participating in this festival and each student is being given the chance to share their ideas and individuality to contribute to the overall creation of an imaginative piece. We are now looking forward to sharing this absorbing play with the audiences in Malta and London.”

A Year and a Day will be performed in Malta at St Vincent de Paul Theatre, Luqa on Saturday 31 March at 8pm and on Wednesday 25 April in Arcola Theatre, London. For more information and booking, phone on 7979-3737/2124-6619 or send an email to [email protected]. Those interested may also visit: www.masquerademalta.com.