Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/720024
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 AUGUST 2016 30 This Week What were the initial aims of the festival, and how did it evolve over time? The Malta International The- atre Festival was launched in 2014 to commemorate the 20th Anniversary (1994-2014) since the official establishment of the Malta Drama Centre as the na- tional performing arts school under the Department of Edu- cation. Following the first edi- tion, the Malta Drama Centre School Council decided to hold the festival on a biennial l basis alternating with a Youth Thea- tre Festival (first edition 2015). How would you say the festi- val is distinguished from oth- ers happening during the same season? The festival is unique in a lo- cal context since as opposed to other festivals it is entirely ded- icated to stage plays and it also has an international dimension which aims at showcasing our local talent as well as expanding the theatre spectrum amongst local practitioners. The main aim of the festival, in fact, is to present, by way of a variety of plays, performances and sub- sequent critical analyses, col- loquies and workshops, a global picture of the diverse trends in theatre, and to encourage en- counters between theatre prac- titioners. What are the new dimensions being incorporated into this year's edition of the festival? The first of the novelties is the location itself. The per- formances will be held at the Egmont Hall within the walls of the newly renovated Fort St Angelo. The fort is not yet open to the public and hence the fes- tival also presents an opportu- nity to those who have not yet visited it to enjoy the beautiful panorama this majestic fortress offers. Another novelty is the increase of foreign participat- ing groups from two to three, with performers from nine dif- ferent countries. This year also, there are no less than six differ- ent workshops and discussions which will be held at the Malta Drama Centre. On what criteria did you se- lect this year's batch of inter- national participants, and what would you say each of them brings to the table? The committee selected the international performers bear- ing in mind the reputation and portfolio of the group, their international experience, the relevance of the production proposed as well as an overall variety of genres and perfor- mances. Yerevan State Pan- tomime Theatre bring with them the Armenian tradition of mime, I Piselli (based in Ger- many but with performers from 6 different nationalities) are ex- perts in Commedia Dell'Arte, while Frost Theatre from Swe- den give a different meaning to traditional Scandinavian thea- tre. Generally speaking, what do you make of the local theatre scene? What would you change about it? I believe that the Maltese the- atre scene has evolved and that locally we are producing an ar- ray of very high-standard pro- ductions. The main problem is performance spaces, with high- ly talented new theatre groups finding it hard to find a space where to rehearse and perform within their budget. This is def- initely something which I would change. I also believe we must continue working hard for our practitioners to be able to study performance on a full time basis from a very early age… some- thing which I know the Min- istry of Education is working on and which we are currently offering on a part-time basis through the Directorate of Life Long learning. The Malta International The- atre Festival will be taking place between September 8 and 11. For more information and a full programme of both the festival and its adjoining workshops, log on to: www.mitfestival.com Setting the stage TEODOR RELJIC speaks to Alan Fenech, the Director of the Malta International Theatre Festival, about what distinguishes this celebration of local and international theatre from other events of its ilk I Will Knit You A New Mitten When We Reach Sweden by Frost Theatre Mikhail by Grokk Teatru Arlecchino u l-Barbier ta Siviglia by Zararti Alan Fenech The Spirit of Throne by Yerevan State Pantomime Theatre