A hard-hitting original new play that focuses on Malta's continuing construction and development has launched a crowdfunding campaign on local platform Zaar.

Penned by Clare Azzopardi, Tebut Isfar is a Maltese language play that addresses the ever-relevant issue of development in Malta by telling the story of Ġorġ, who owns a small coffin shop in Valletta and is dealing with a developer who wants to buy the shop to build a boutique hotel.

Since Maltese language plays in print remain a rarity, Azzopardi and Adrian Buckle of Unifaun Theatre Productions, decided to turn to crowdfunding in order for Tebut Isfar to be published and locally staged.

"We launched this Zaar crowdfunding campaign to create a memorable performance written by a Maltese female playwright for the Maltese public and to have the script published," Buckle explains. "Very few scripts in the Maltese language are published, so we are seeking to address this void through crowdfunding. Supporting this project would mean supporting quality theatre in Malta, as well as endorsing theatre in Maltese."

Although the majority of funds raised will go towards the production costs of publishing the script, funding will also enable the staging of the play later this year. Produced by Unifaun Theatre Productions as part of its 2018/9 season, the performances of Tebut Isfar will be directed by Marcelle Teuma and will feature an impressive local cast including Peter Galea, Leigh Ann Abela, Mariele Zammit and Anthony Ellul.

Supporters of the campaign can also expect to receive one of a series of rewards proportionate to the amount they have donated, from being added to the show's mailing list and receiving an acknowledgement in the programme, to receiving a copy of the script once published, drinks with the cast and complimentary VIP tickets to the shows.

Visitors are invited to log on www.zaar.com.mt/projects/tebutisfar/ to make a donation or for further information about the performances, which will take place at VCT (ex MITP) in Valletta at 8pm over the weekends between 13 and 28 October.

The project is endorsed by Malta Arts Fund.