Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1050749
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 11 NOVEMBER 2018 CULTURE BOOK FESTIVAL "WILL I see you there? Will you see me? What do you think of me? What do I think?" These are the questions that young per- formers in local theatre company Studio 18 asked themselves as they devised iLand, which will be performed at this year's edi- tion of ŻiguŻajg. As Malta's internationally-renowned arts festival for children and young people, ŻiguŻajg has steadily gained popularity year-on-year, providing a platform for arts that illustrate the issues experienced by to- day's younger generation. For this year's special edition of the fes- tival, which also celebrates Valletta's year as European Capital of Culture, Studio 18 creative director Jean-Marc Cafà felt the time was right to amplify the voice of Malta's teenagers, with their devised piece iLand. "iLand is a site-specific piece de- vised by young people for young people, exploring what it means to be a teenager in Malta in 2018," he explains. "It is spe- cial for many reasons, but ultimately it is the company of young people and their ownership of the piece that has given it a magic touch. They energise the team, the process and the remit of the project." iLand is an extension of The Box Pro- ject, during which Studio 18 performers worked with a number of schools over the course of three years and introduced young people to devised work as a medi- um of self-expression. "The Box was a col- laboration project with Valletta 2018 that launched in 2015," Jean-Marc elaborates. "It enabled our company of young peo- ple to train together, work with overseas practitioners, research and develop the concept, and rehearse the piece for a year in preparation for ŻiguŻajg 2018. The pa- rameters of this process have been rather unique." This year-long process has resulted in a site-specific piece that is set in the atmos- pheric surroundings of the Castille vaults. "The promenade performance takes audi- ences on a journey through iLand; a place which is a social bubble, a teenage maze; where we choose to make of it what we wish," says Jean-Marc. "It offers the clos- est of encounters with the world of local teens, holding a mirror up to their experi- ences at this important stage in their lives." Supporting the company as they have devised the piece has been an impressive backstage team including Jean-Marc as director, artistic consultant Paul Ed- wards, movement director Christina Cauchi, cultural ambassadors Benjamin Abela and Brendon Thearle, and educa- tional psychologist Ian Azzopardi Meli, all of whom Jean-Marc feels have been vital to the process of creating devised theatre. "This has been an enormous learning curve. I come from a text-based background where the words and char- acters are the driving force. But, recent- ly, I've found myself drawn to devised theatre – iLand has taken that to a new level," he admits. "Working with a UK practitioner and a Dutch consultant has also offered me new opportunities for growth and a different perspective about how and why work is created. As a crea- tive director, it has allowed me a lot of insight into the celebrations and strug- gles of youth, how they perceive life and the adventures that are part and parcel of a fast-paced, ever-evolving world." By providing this new insight into the life and times of young people, Jean-Marc maintains that festivals such as ŻiguŻajg, which elevate the arts for the younger gen- eration, have become increasingly impor- tant in the modern world. "ŻiguŻajg is not about educating our younger generations – it is about providing them with the ideal climate to experience and engage. The arts can act as a stimulant, offering young people relatable scenarios that empower them to emote, identify, relate, question and explore. All this, given the appropri- ate treatment and knowledge and ideally backed by discussion and perspective, is a unique opportunity for growth." By offering such an opportunity to young people and arts practitioners alike, ŻiguŻajg continues to hold a special place in Jean-Marc's – and Studio 18's – heart. "ŻiguŻajg is endlessly popular with crea- tives and audiences alike – and it is not hard to see why. Local artists are sup- ported to create new work and develop collaborative relationships, while fami- lies can experience a new way of learn- ing throughout the festival. ŻiguŻajg is the toughest part of my calendar and my work within it has been the most chal- lenging in my repertoire. But, for Studio 18 and other arts practitioners in Malta, ŻiguŻajg represents a golden opportunity: engaging with young people – the harsh- est and most honest critics in any audi- ence! – while creating a one-stop shop for everyone to absorb and assimilate culture, practices and disciplines at a ridiculously affordable price!" iLand will be performed as part of the ŻiguŻajg International Arts Festival for Children and Young People at the Prom- enade Theatre in the Castille Vaults be- tween 16 and 24 November 2018. It is be- ing produced in collaboration with V18. It is suitable for those aged 12 and above. More information regarding the show and the festival may be found at www.ziguzajg. org. The world as seen by Malta's teens