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THIS WEEK STARTING next month, the radio plays, which are being co-pro- duced by the Public Broadcasting Services Ltd (PBS) and the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts (MCCA), will be broadcast on the first Friday of every month at 14:30 on Radju Malta 2. The six scripts, which are the winners of the Premju Francis Ebejer, the national theatre script- writing award, are currently being recorded and post-produced with the latest technology at PBS's new Radio Department, situated with- in the Creativity Hub. The plays - which include four past winners as well as the win- ner and runner-up of last year's edition - are Kwadri minn Wirja written and directed by Joe Frig- gieri; Kanon għal Erba' Ilħna, written and directed by George Peresso; Kiesaħ u Biered, written by Anthony Portelli, directed by George Peresso and performed by Bakkanti; Lippu d-Doggi, written by Anthony Portelli and directed by Tyrone Grima; Fuq il-Bjut, written by Vincent Vella, directed by John Suda; and KM613 minn Ruma, written and directed by Joe Friggieri. Actors include well- known names such as Godwin Scerri, Ninette Micallef, Theresa Friggieri and Michael Tabone. "This initiative was born through PBS's commitment to contribute towards the strengthening of the accessibility of Maltese literature to its audiences and listeners," said PBS chairman Tonio Portughese. MCCA chair Albert Marshall add- ed: "The Malta Council for Cul- ture and the Arts felt the need to breathe new life into the radio play genre which has been completely sidelined by stations until now." In recent years, in fact, radio drama has tended to fade from the airwaves. Without visuals to dis- tract, it is different from conven- tional theatre in that it seems to pare away at the reality portrayed. Words take on a deeper meaning; silence and sounds, too, take on a different quality. Without shared visuals, too, the imagination plays a part in an experience that, while being broadcast publicly, becomes strangely private. So if you would like to know more about what was said during an airport conversation between two former lovers or how two cou- ples that live in the same building, yet inhabiting different worlds, come together in the backdrop of the Cairo revolution - or even lis- ten to the story about the conse- quences faced by a man who wakes up late for work while looking at alternative realities and exploring the Maltese psyche, tune in to Ra- dio Malta 2 on the first Friday of every month at 14:30. The radio plays are being co- produced by Public Broadcasting Services Ltd and the Malta Coun- cil for Culture and the Arts togeth- er with the support of Middlesea, a member of Mapfre Group maltatoday, SUNDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2014 39 THIS WEEK Download the MaltaToday App now Carnival revival harks back to the past The 2014 Valletta carnival will see the return of several historical traditions, as well as a collaboration with London's Notting Hill Carnival COLOURFUL f loats, dancing queens, bright costumes, enter- taining re-enactments – all will be there at this year's Carnival, run- ning from February 28 to March 4. But there will also be much more besides. From the return of satire to the wandering farce qarċilla, this year's Carnival will include a number of novelties – most of which hark back to the past. In Malta, the roots of Carnival can be traced back to the early 1400s, although it was the Knights of the Order of St John that en- dowed the national festivities with spectacle and pageantry. For the first time in 40 years, Carnival will be held in St George's Square, bringing the festive atmos- phere to the heart of the old capi- tal, where it was held up to the early 1970s. Between 1972 and 2010 the hub of the organised activities was in Freedom Square, but this was stopped when the new parliament building project started in 2011. The year after, Carnival was held at the Valletta Bus Terminus while, for the past two years, it has been held at the Floriana Granaries. The return of satire, too, is a novelty with its roots buried in the past. Carnival parades during the British period, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries, were noted for their biting satirical themes, and many of the intricate f loats were designed to poke fun at popular figures and unpopu- lar government decisions. In the 1920s and 30s the caricature of political figures often led to tense situations that induced the govern- ment to ban such customs from fu- ture editions of Carnival. Political satire was essentially banned as a result of a law passed in 1936. The qarċilla or wandering farce – which also makes a return this year – was still held in the Val- letta Carnival up to a century ago. A man dressed as a notary read out a marriage contract in rhym- ing verse full of witticisms – some verging on the obscene – to a bride and groom. The first known qarċilla was written for the 1760 Carnival by the poet Fr Feliċ Demarco. This year's qarċilla, penned by Trevor Zahra, will be performed by a number of actors, including Joseph Galea. They will wander around the streets of Valletta on Saturday evening, re-enacting a parody of a wedding ceremony. Saturday evening is also when the Carnival festivities will reach their climax. This year – another first – they will also run through the night, in a non-stop celebra- tion. Yet another first is the twin- ning with Notting Hill Carnival, Europe's largest festival of popular culture. A Caribbean Carnival in Brit- ain, Notting Hill Carnival takes place on the streets of North Ken- sington in London with elements that include musical bands, sound systems, masquerade bands, sing- ers, musical and artistic competi- tions, Caribbean food stalls, street fashion, sound stages and danc- ing spectators following bands through the streets. The Notting Hill Carnival attracts on average of 1.5 million people over its two days in August each year. Sureya John, the UK Universal Carnival Queen, will be headlin- ing the first ever presentation of the Notting Hill Carnival in Malta. Another Carnival Queen, from the Elimu Paddington Band, will also perform with the Notting Hill Group. And to highlight that Carnival is all about diversity and inclusion – and, ultimately, joining in the fun – this year a group of dancers from the Adult Training Centres of Agency Sapport will present a dance at the National Carnival. Other novelties include the artis- tic direction by Carnival director Jason Busuttil for the first time, a People's Choice Award which will be selected by televoting, and con- tacts are also being made with Vi- areggio Carnival. All this is apart from the dance competitions, f loat defilés, swarm- ing streets and exuberant cos- tumes that are so much a part of Carnival. For a few days Valletta is in party mode. Streets are trans- formed, children every where are in fancy dress, gigantic f loats push their way through the crowds. Radio drama to return as MCCA and PBS team up to produce award-winning scripts George Peresso will be among the playwrights showcased as part of this new radio drama initiative