Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1507552
15 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 13 SEPTEMBER 2023 THEATRE THE Malta Amateur Dramatic Club's (MADC) Playhouse was abuzz with ac- tivity this weekend for this year's edi- tion of the Club's iconic One Act Play Festival. Now in its 44th edition, the festival has year after year been the spring- board for aspiring directors, actors and crew, offering them their first taste of life on stage and behind the scenes. This year's edition ran from 7 to 10 September at the Playhouse in Sta Venera. Five plays were presented, each performed twice over the course of the weekend. "The MADC One Act Play Festival forms a seminal part of the Club's annual programme," Marylu Coppi- ni, MADC's Artistic Director, said. "Since its inception in 1979, it has been one of the Club's constants, an- nually offering an opportunity to act, direct or discover the various aspects of backstage to newcomers keen to explore life in the theatre. A good number of Malta's established thea- tre practitioners started their careers at the One Acts, and the festival's popularity shows no sign of waning." This year's line-up offered a mix of dramas and comedies: Funeral Tea by Pat Wilson, Three More Sleepless Nights by Caryl Churchill, Something in the Genes by Don Woods, Interior: Panic (A One-Act Play) by Tennessee Williams and Audition For A Writer by Doris M. Day. Awards were given for best produc- tion, best director, best actor, best ac- tress, most promising actor, and most promising actress; the presentation ceremony took place on Sunday after the performance of the final play. "There is nothing more satisfying than collaborating with a team of people to produce a play and present it for audiences to enjoy," Coppini said. "Moreover, the chance of contrib- uting to Malta's continually thriving theatre scene is really quite unique, and the One Acts is an excellent place to start that journey." MADC One Act Play Festival confirmed as platform of choice for directors and actors The MADC One Act Play Festival, launched in 1979, continues to cement its place in Malta's theatrical calendar – providing the springboard for up-and-coming theatre practitioners LEADING local theatre col- lective The Shrinking Violets has announced an open call for young performers to work in tandem with the company on its next production. Five female practitioners – Maria Buckle, Jo Caruana, Chi- ara Hyzler, Cathy Lawlor, and Denise Mulholland – make up The Shrinking Violets, which has presented critically ac- claimed shows including Jam- boy, Ernest and the Pale Moon, Us/Them and most recently, In Other Words. Their upcoming production, Miscast – An Atypical Cabaret, will take place on 10, 11 and 12 November 2023. In this relaxed evening of laughter and music, all five Violets will perform to- gether for the first time since they formed The Shrinking Vi- olets in 2017. They'll be joined in the cast by other top Maltese performers Mikhail Basmadji- an, Thomas Camilleri, Joseph Zammit and Luca Zerafa. Alongside creating and performing in Miscast, The Shrinking Violets will mentor the five young people – named the Mini Collective – as they create a cabaret show of their own and perform it on the same weekend. "We'd love to hear from any- one aged 18-25 with a love for performing and/or directing – as well as those with multiple interests related to theatre and other skills," Cathy Lawlor, on behalf of The Shrinking Vio- lets, said. "Applicants should send a cover letter that highlights any recent and relevant experience they may have, why they would like to take part, and what dif- ferent aspects of theatre they would like to explore in the project." Applicants are invited to sub- mit their performance CV and covering letter via email to shrinkingvioletsmalta@gmail. com, by this Friday. Applicants must be available between the start of October and the show on 12 November. The Shrinking Violets calls for young performers Five young theatre enthusiasts will soon have the chance to create and perform a cabaret show, under the mentorship of The Shrinking Violets Credits Chris Sant Fournier