© 2008 - The Drama Centre Malta , All rights reserved.

THROUGHOUT the academic year 2008-2009 THE MALTA DRAMA CENTRE embarked on a number of new overseas projects. It is one of the main aims of the Centre to provide opportunities for students at all ages to participate in Drama Encounters which bring together groups from all over the world, including North Africa and from across the Atlantic.

In May/June 2009, for instance, Intermediate students from the Centre travelled to Bressanone (Brixen) in Northern Italy to take part in the 5th Edition of the TDZ (Sapperlot) Drama Festival, which hosted troupes from Europe, the Middle East and the United States of America. The Maltese group, co-directed by Albert Marshall, Lizzie Eldrige and Marvic Doughty, presented a dynamic piece of theatre based on Malta's ancient past. Co-written by Mario Azzopardi and Albert Marshall, Wied Hagra Story (Great Rock Valley Story) oscillated in time to recall the cultural and religious roots of the Maltese people, steeped in ritual which often demanded extraordinary human sacrifice.

Another important project undertaken in 2009 formed part of a Lifelong Learning Programme under the auspices of the European Union. A company of Maltese Extended Programme actors from the Centre travelled to Thessalonica, Greece, to research and perform Forum Theatre based on the health hazards provoked by the indiscriminate installation of electro-magnetic antennas on the Hill of Hortiatis. In Greece, the Maltese group joined some twenty other actors from Greece and Austria and spent six intensive days of research and drama workshops related to the controversial issue. The Antenna Park Story was directed by Abigail Williams on behalf of the Malta Drama Centre and presented to a full, interactive audience at the Hortiatis Regional Theatre.

In July 2009 the Drama Centre will be involved in another overseas performance, this time in Vienna, Austria. The Centre was invited to participate at the X-tra Drama Encounter (AITA) and it chose to present a parody on "the sham workings of democracy". The general theme of the Vienna Encounter related to the notions of "what is right and what is wrong" and the Maltese group extended the concept to examine how democratic practice can be manipulated and abused. Working under the title Fakusi Lotu Kumba, a script devised by Mario Azzopardi, a group of eight Senior student-actors were directed by Lino Farrugia in an extravaganza of colour and movement.