Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1091272
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MARCH 2019 THEATRE TOP improv trainer Shawn Kinley will be flying into Malta next week to lead two high-energy workshops, followed by a performance of Keith Johnstone's Maestro™. Organised by Curtain Call Produc- tions, the workshops will take the form of easy, structured and fun ac- tivities guided by Kinley, who will help participants to push themselves gently to develop a number of important soft life skills, such as awareness, creative thinking, spontaneity, adaptability, risk-taking, and issues of control. "These sorts of workshops are cre- ated both for those with a passion for drama and the arts, as well as other types of individuals. For instance, they are popular with business people who want to improve their work life, teach- ers to develop abilities for more effec- tive communication and expression, friends and couples to have a good time, as well as actors, musicians, and performers to develop themselves ar- tistically," explains organiser Simone Ellul, who is herself very proficient in the world of improv. "Now these workshops have been designed to give attendees a fun leap into an experi- ence they won't forget." Two workshops will be taking place on consecutive days in Ibragg: On Friday 15 March the 'Intro to Improv workshop' is aimed at people who have never tried improv before but are curious about it and would like to learn more. The next day, on Satur- day 16, there will be a full-day work- shop for actors and improvisers who already have an idea of improvisation and the workshop will focus on 'Easy Improvisation for Everyone'. "We are born great improvisers; unscripted a nd spontaneous," ex- plains Kinley. "We are taught to avoid change, failure and the unknown. And then, we spend much of our adult life trying to regain what we already knew. Improvisation is at the core of all that we do. This workshop aims at remov- ing the things that get in our way to making improvisation easy." Kinley, who is flying to Malta espe- cially for the event, is a top improvi- sation teacher from Calgary, Canada. He has been performing and teach- ing for more than 30 years on every continent in 53 countries. A member of the Loose Moose Improvisation Company for over 30 years, he leads workshops in improvisation, contact improvisation, mask work, mime, and other forms of theatre. His students have included profes- sional actors, athletes, university stu- dents, corporate managers, the mili- tary and children. Following the workshops, those at- tending them will be given the option to perform Keith Johnstone's Maes- tro at the Drama and Dance Centre in Hamrun – it is a show that played around the world in more than 50 countries. Directed by Kinley and El- lul, Maestro is a competitive improvi- sation piece where performers play against each other to be the last per- former to survive. "Our performers – including the workshop participants, if they so wish – will create spontaneous scenes un- der the suggestions of the directors and audience, and the audience will then score the scenes and lower-scor- ing players are eliminated one by one. It's great fun – and we look forward to welcoming to general public to ex- perience an improv performance. This format has never before been played in Malta and is a unique opportunity for Maltese audiences to experience a form of theatre that has been played all over the world." Both workshops are open to those over 16 and ideal for all experience levels. To sign up, or for more infor- mation, please email curtaincallim- prov@gmail.com. The Beginners' Workshop is on Friday 15th March from 6-9pm and priced at €45, the Open Workshop is on Saturday 16 March from 10am to 5pm for €90. The workshops will take place at Ibrag Parish, Triq l-Ibrag, Ibrag, while Maestro™ will be shown at the Drama and Dance Centre, Kullegg San Gorg Preca, Mountbatten Street, Blata l- Bajda, Hamrun. There will be an evening workshop on 15 March, an all-day workshop on 16 March, and a great-fun public evening performance of Keith Johnstone's Maestro Top improv trainer to lead workshops in Malta LUKE Chappell has not stopped composing music after reaching the Xfactor semi-final and is expected to release a debut album in summer. The 15-year-old singer and song- writer stole hearts with his own song Losing Faith when he first stepped in front of the Xfactor judges for his au- dition last year. The song had also made it to Bay Radio's local top 10 songs for a few weeks and raked up 28,000 views on social media. Chappell returned to his studies soon after the Xfactor experience, preparing for his O-Level exams but kept his passion for music alive. It has been sleepless nights for Chappell as he juggles study with song writing and composing in prep- aration for his debut album in a few months' time. "It has been an interesting period, very hectic but rewarding and I must thank the fans for their support," Chappell said. Only last week, he performed live at a carnival party for students at the St Monica Secondary School. Swarmed by the teenage girls wanting to take selfies with him, the live performance was delayed by half an hour. On the same weekend, Chappell was also invited to perform at a spe- cial kids' event organised by the Val- letta Cruise Port Social Club at the Magazino Hall, Valletta Waterfront. Chappell performed two original songs and a cover of Better Now by Post Melone. After a busy carnival weekend, Chappell will be back to his busy schedule of composing and stud- ying. Luke Chappell to release debut album in summer Luke Chappell Shawn Kinley will be flying into Malta next week Workshops will take the form of easy, structured and fun activities