Ever since Marco Calleja graduated from the University of Malta eight years ago, his career has been somewhat of a roller-coaster ride, having taught at both primary and secondary and also worked as a television producer for a local media company. In the meantime, he was taking part in numerous theatrical performances and running his very own theatre company - Hoi Polloi Theatre Productions. In 2013, Hoi Polloi branched out into performing arts education through the setting up of its own performing arts school which Marco runs part-time.
"This past year has been a very different and exciting one for me since I went back to being a full-time student in London," Marco smiles, "I remember the day I got the email of acceptance from the Royal School of Speech and Drama. It was one of the happiest days of my life and it has been one big adventure ever since."
The Advanced Theatre Practice degree, which Marco is currently following, brings together and nurtures the many skills required to be a theatre-maker. Having chosen the "performer's cluster", every day started out with movement in order to build strength, stamina and stretch. Throughout the course he and his fellow students explored theatre-devising, voice-work, the use of text in contemporary theatre, directing, writing, theatre-producing and period dance, among others.
"As a performer and director, this year has been an eye-opening experience with respect to scenography, lighting and sound, starting off with the skills such as climbing a ladder and rigging lights, which helped me get over my fear of heights, to research, programming lights and creating a soundscape. This degree has given me the skills to see an idea through from inception to its preview night as an all-round theatre-maker," he explains.
Throughout his year in London, Marco's roles included Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth, Mal Tease in Maquillage and The Wolf in short film The Girl who fell in love with a Wolf for BBC International.
The final part of his Master's degree was what is called the Sustained Independent Project, which requires the students to form theatre companies and create their own show with the aim of taking the work outside the safety and comfort of the school. This is how I Drink to Thee by the BrainStorm Ensemble, made up of Marco Calleja (Malta), Amy Collins (UK), Nicole Aquah (UK), JinSook Kim (South Korea) and Andrija Repec (Croatia), was born.
"As an ensemble, we believe in collaborative theatre-making, where as a group we research, discuss, devise and direct the work we do. We all have our strengths and interests, which we share in the rehearsal room - a very non-traditional way of making theatre when compared to the usual director / performer / producer combo," says Marco.
I Drink to Thee is an original work inspired by many elements, including Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Marco explains that it is not a take on an already existing script or choreography but represents BrainStorm Ensemble's interpretation of the dream world as initially inspired by the question - what would Juliet have dreamt when taking the potion to escape her harsh reality. He says that it invites the audience to see what they want to see, making the experience a unique one for all - a crossbreed between physical theatre and performance art.
"I believe that we have created an abstract physical-theatre piece which deals with universal issues and allows the audience to see what they want to see - similar to the way a painting 'speaks' to you in an art gallery with the difference that this piece includes movement, sound and text - a breathing image of some sort!" Marco states.
The ensemble has been rehearsing since April. Three showings were organised in London between May and June to share their work with other colleagues and in order to get feedback from their tutors and peers. July was the month for fine-tuning. And now, in August, audiences in Malta will also have the opportunity to watch this production.
"This is an exploration of Juliet, and every human beings escape from reality to the surreal world of dreams. Our emotions and feelings manifest themselves in weird ways within our dreams, such as anxiety manifesting as the ever-so-popular teeth falling out dream - but how does one stage such surreal feelings and situations? That is the exciting part behind this production and all I can say is that it involves a lot of petals," Marco laughs.
'I Drink to Thee' will be performed at the Valletta Campus Theatre (ex-MITP) in Merchants Street on 2 August. Tickets may be purchased from www.ticketline.com.mt.
For more information, search 'I Drink to Thee' on Facebook.