Theatre as a rehearsal for life is the slogan which the Malta Drama Centre has adopted to enter the real world of life drama. In recent years, the Centre has been a protagonist in many reality-related issues which were presented in several European countries, from Italy to Latvia, from Bulgaria to Austria, from Poland to France, among others. The Centre’s participation, which most often assumed a key role, was and is being made possible thanks to support from the General Directorate for Education and Culture of the European Commission, under its Lifelong Learning Programme.

A group of six Maltese actors, under the direction of Ms Abigail Williams, a British-trained Maltese tutor engaged with the Drama Centre, have just returned from Thessalonica, in Greece, where they researched, devised and performed a “forum” piece on the hazards presented by a forest of electro-magnetic antennas planted on Hortiatis Hill in a region known for its environmental beauty but now marred by a health-threatening reality. Basing their research on scientific data provided by the University of Aristotle and on the findings which emerged from direct interviews with the inhabitants, the actors discovered how “the antenna park”, as ironically called by the Greek locals, is causing cardiac problems, relative impotence in men, audio-visual complications, memory loss, lethargy and reduced mental concentration. They have also found out that there are clues pointing to certain types of cancer.

Working with other countries from Greece and Austria, the Maltese troupe devised five relevant scenes to express what is happening in Hortiatis. The dramatic collage was then presented to a large crowd of inhabitants, who assembled at the main theatre of the locality, not only to “debate” the issue, but more importantly, to literally “possess the stage” and become “spect-actors” by way of redirecting the scenes towards a desirable solution. The event unfolded in the presence of the Mayor of Hortiatis, council officials, politicians and sections of the press.

“In Hortiatis we came face to face with an authentic reality check,” explained a spokesperson for the Malta Drama Centre. “Our group could witness the anxiety and the intense fear gripping inhabitants who are threatened by biological and mental mutations. Our theatre project has not only brought out the problem in full force, but also empowered the locals to press hard for action, including the dismantling of illegal antennas.”

Meanwhile, another group of ten intermediate actors from the Malta Drama Centre is currently in Bressanone, in Northern Italy, to take part in the 2009 edition of the Sapperlot Theatre Encounter for Youths. This is another initiative assisted by the European Union’s Education and Cultural Programme.