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MT 9 July 2017

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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 JULY 2017 39 This Week GET Your Act Together can announce that Gianni Selvaggi and Lizzie Eldridge will now be working with mentors on their pro- posed scripts, both of which will be based on the themes of island life and cabin fever. A first of its kind for Malta, Get Your Act Together is a two-year project spearheaded by More or Less Theatre, with the support of the Malta Arts Fund within Arts Coun- cil Malta, together with the Valletta 2018 Foundation, that commenced last March, with the aim to give two playwrights men- torship and funds to create a theatrical script in both English and Maltese. The first part of the project saw hopefuls attend a full-day workshop in either Malta or Gozo addressed by Italian actor and di- rector Domenico Castaldo – who special- ises in actor-training, Spanish math educa- tor Eduardo Sáenz de Cabezón – who has given Ted Talks on combining science with humour and stories, French anthropologist Dr Elise Billard – a visiting lec- turer in Material Culture at the University of Malta, and actor, director and playwright Mal- colm Galea, who is also a co- producer of the project. Applicants were then asked to submit their script ideas. The finalists – Gianni Selvaggi with a monologue dealing with can- cer in men, addiction and men- tal health, and Lizzie Eldridge, with a script about common space and conflict between is- land communities and urbani- sation, suicide and sexual abuse – were chosen by Castaldo and Sáenz de Cabezón, with the help of the Malta Chamber of Scientists and Science in the City festival team. Asked about her experience so far, Eldrige said: "This op- portunity is really timely. Hav- ing been shortlisted for a Na- tional Book Prize last year, I'm now getting the chance to write with a mentor – something I've never done before – in a pro- ject which combines my writ- ing and theatrical skills. It's perfect!" Selvaggi mirrored those feelings, stat- ing that this opportunity would allow him "to polish [his] writing capabilities and to discover new ways to channel the correct techniques needed to leave an impact, both as an aspiring writer-director but also as a performer on stage." Both playwrights will now begin work with their respective tutors (either Cast- aldo or Sáenz de Cabezón) in person, as well as through correspondence, to have a first draft completed for Science in the City 2017 in September. The scripts will then be refined according to feedback received from critics and audiences, with the final version staged at Science in the City 2018 before a national tour to 10 different loca- tions around Malta and Gozo. "We're incredibly happy with the out- come of the first part of the project," says Angele Galea, the project coordinator who also runs More or Less Theatre with Mal- colm Galea. "This is a golden opportunity for these two aspiring scriptwriters, and we look forward to seeing the first drafts staged come September!" As part of the project, both playwrights will have all expenses related to the crea- tion, staging, mentorship and logistics of the piece funded by the Get Your Act To- gether project. The Get Your Act Together project is sup- ported by the Malta Arts Fund within Arts Council Malta, together with the Valletta 2018 Foundation. For more information about Get Your Act Together, log on to http://fb.com/GYATMalta Our islands are tilted on their side, which is why half our south-west coast is generally sheer cliff and the north-east half mostly slopes gently to the sea. As can be imagined, the two coastlines give rise to very different habitats with distinct flora and fauna. Among the birds of shallow shores are that exquisite group known as waders, and one graceful member of that family is the Greenshank. As waders go, Greenshanks are medium-sized birds, with typical wader anatomy: long slender bill, long legs and slim, streamlined body. It is called Greenshank because of its greenish legs, while the rest of the bird is shades of grey and white with lots of speckling. Its Maltese name is Ċewċewwa, a word that rather mimics this bird's haunting three-note call, a sound that evokes wide windswept estuaries (well, to me at least!). Two good spots to look for Greenshanks resting on migration are Għadira and Salina nature reserves. Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate Text Victor Falzon Photo Aron Tanti 10 actions for a biodiverse Europe - Clamp down on illegal activities III 565. GREENSHANK GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 468: CHEAP RAGS - Replace rags with old newspaper when cleaning paint brushes, removing oil stains and mopping up petrol spills. The Commission has proven slow in handling complaints and hesitant in challenging infringements when they are raised. Of the over 4,000 complaints reported to the Commission, only 19% of them led to action. This is not helped by the fact that the Commission has no ability to monitor, detect, or investigate infringements on its own in environmental matters, making it difficult to gather the necessary information on implementation or breaches of the laws. The Commission and Member States should ensure that the Environmental Liability Directive is fully implemented to prevent and remedy pollution which damages protected sites and species. Get Your Act Together playwrights chosen Two local playwrights have been selected to work with international mentors and have their scripts funded! Gianni Selvaggi. Photo by Julian Vassallo Lizzie Eldridge. Photo by Jacob Sammut

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