Agenzija Zghazagh in conjunction with the Malta Drama Centre is launching a mini-festival of Social Theatre for the very first time in Malta. The project is being undertaken under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth and Sport.
The idea is that groups of young actors come together with established writers and theatre directors to create one-act plays that reflect contemporary social realities.
The Social Theatre Contest is another project organized by Agenzija Zghazagh as part of the Empowerment programme. Miriam Teuma, Chief Executive Officer of Agenzija Zghazagh stated that: “It is important that entities like the Drama Centre are collaborating with us, because besides enhancing the agency’s profile these activities are opening us up to dynamic projects”. “This is the third creative project following that of the Literature for Young People Contest and Divergent Thinkers.”
The mini-festival, which is open to actors between 18 and 30, explores social themes and the scripts have been created in a collective manner. Afterwards noted authors “structured” the scripted material. The respective groups have been given the liberty to choose any style they deem fit.
On its part the Drama Centre considers this initiative as complementary to the work it undertakes in the area of community theatre, where adult student-actors visit different places to provoke discussion using theatre.
For the first edition four unique acts will be competing for prizes, which include money and certificates. The list of authors/directors includes Kristabel Catania, Natasha Turner, Andrè Mangion, Clive Piscopo, Athony Ellul, Ivan Debattista and Albert Marshall. The chosen genres vary from psychodrama to black comedy.
The adjudicating evening is set for 2 November, with Monica Attard, Andrè Delicata and Paul Xuereb on the jury panel. The winning plays will then be performed on two nights for the public at the Drama Centre on 9-10 November. For ticket information phone 2122-0665 or 2388-6182