Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/949290
maltatoday SUNDAY 4 MARCH 2018 46 This Week SPRING is a season anticipated for a multitude of reasons, mostly but not solely, because of the beauti- ful Mediterranean weather it brings along. We leave the cold, wet season behind and look ahead toward the seasons before us and the multitude of cultural activities they bring forth. Malta is indeed making a name for itself for its cultural events, several of which are gaining international repute for their high standards and the uncompromised charm that sur- rounds them. The rock and metal scene is certainly on the forefront of this progression in the arts, and Met- al over Malta Festival is holding the banner of quality high indeed. Running its fourth edition, Metal Over Malta Festival will take place indoors at Chateau Buskett on March 9 and 10, starting at 18:00 on both days. This fourth instalment will see fourteen bands from nine countries as far apart as Tunisia and Finland, all brought together in fra- ternity under the intercultural um- brella of music. "In life one struggles to find a forum, that is more suited than music festivals, where people from all walks of life and countries come together to embrace the joys of one common language. Such is the spirit of Metal Over Malta Festival," organiser Sean Pollacco said. Tracing the festival's origins back in 2014 as a smaller version of its present form, Pollacco adds that the festival has since "grown consider- ably" and now attracts a sizeable for- eign audience that travels purposely for the event. So too have the people and sponsors who rally behind the festival grown exponentially. Past editions saw some of the genres big- gest bands hit the stage, including Draconian, Septicflesh and oriental luminary outfit Orphaned Land, to mention just a few. Metal Over Malta Festival strives to be a leader in the rock and metal scene, pushing boundaries of qual- ity and standard, and setting the bar of excellence in stage arts high. "The vision goes beyond organis- ing a music event, and considers the stage-audience dynamic that is at the heart of the greatest curated festivals worldwide," Pollacco says, adding that the vision at the onset and earli- est of stages, was never to organise a "juggernaut" of the scale of industry- standard Wacken in Germany, "But rather to create the charm of medi- um-sized, indoor curated festivals that have for years graced venues and communities overseas. This is where the heart of Metal Over Malta lies, and what the organisers feel is the reason for its success," Pollacco says. This year the stars of the show are Finnish quintet Moonsorrow head- lining Saturday and Scandinavian genre-setting Gothic Metal band Sirenia headlining Friday, the lat- ter fresh from an outstanding set of shows on the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise and surely not-to-be-missed by anyone who enjoyed the Lacuna Coil show at Rock 'n' Malta late last year. Co-headlining are Swed- ish Epic Doom Metal and Viking bands, respectively, Isole and Ereb Altor. Old-schoolers have quite a lot to soak in on both days. Completing the line-up are a further nine bands including Carthagods who are play- ing their second show on the island, as well as three local bands: Align the Tide, Insurgence and Weep- ing Silence. The latter, who for 20 years have held the Maltese flag of Gothic-Doom Metal internationally, will be seeing some major changes in their ranks and this festival edition will mark the farewell show of four members. This is the final time the 'Opus IV Oblivion' line-up will play together, making this edition all that more special. The event's pre-party will be held at The Funky Monkey on March 8 at 20:00, and admission to the pre-party is free. Pollacco believes that if noth- ing else, Metal Over Malta Festival, along with other growing interna- tional events in Malta, is a testament to the local vigour; an ever-present and highly energised metal commu- nity that from within it brings forth its best qualities to put on a show, year-in year-out, which exceeds ex- pectations. "It is a metal community that is collectively eyeing quality and one that is ready to take the plunge to do something that stands tall among its counterparts overseas," he adds. Advanced e-tickets for the fourth edition can be bought at a reduced price from the website at €40 plus processing fee (both days inclusive). Standard door tickets will also be available, and students with a valid student card are entitled to a re- duced combi-ticket at €35. The festival is also proud to em- brace a 'don't drink and drive' stance, and organised festival transport (payable on the van itself) is available at 18:00 on Friday and 17:00 on Sat- urday from in front of the Bayview Hotel in Gzira and in front of the Phoenicia Hotel in Floriana. Visitors can take this transport back to their residence after the event on both days at a reasonable price. Admission is for 17+ years only. For more information on Metal Over Malta, log on to www.metal- overmalta.com and www.facebook. com/metalovermalta Teatru Malta rears for a knock-out Raymond "Fight" Beck promises to delve into the real world of Maltese boxing Metal over Buskett THE world of local boxing is the focal point of Teatru Malta's up- coming production, as Raymond "Fight" Beck is set to premier at Spazju Kreattiv at St James Cava- lier, Valletta on March 10. An opening salvo from the newly-minted Teatru Malta – the wide-ranging and inclusive Na- tional Theatre project – the stage show, directed by Sean Buhagiar and penned by Andre Mangion, tells the story of Raymond Beck, a retired fighter who returns to the ring, motivated by a desire for cash but also self-discovery. The original script by Mangion – an emerging but promising young writer on the local scene – is culled from real-life experiences of Maltese boxers for maximum authenticity. "The process of creating the sto- ry involved interviewing boxers, coaches, close family members and boxing enthusiasts," Man- gion said, adding that these inter- views did not just serve as useful background informaton, but also helped the young playwright craft the play's storyline, while also bringing to the fore its thematic weight. "Through these interviews I came to realise that boxing rings are not just a place where two people fight. Boxing rings can hold the most interesting stories ever told and that is why I be- lieve that Raymond "Fight" Beck is a play that will appeal to box- ing enthusiasts, theatre lovers and all those in love with purely good Maltese stories," Mangion enthused. The play, a collaboration be- tween Teatru Malta and Spazju Kreattiv with the support of the Malta Arts Fund, was also helped along into being by the boxers of the Fight Factory, who guided the actors to help them get a handle on the necessary physicality of their roles. Professional boxer 'Super' Steve Martin played a cru- cial part in training the cast over the past few months – a cast that includes local theatrical lumi- naries like John Montanaro and Davide Tucci, who will be taking on the roles of Raymond and his arch-nemesis Dyson Cumbo, re- spectively. "The cast, apart from being ex- ceptionally talented, were also the very supportive," Mangion said. "Throughout the whole rehearsal process we've discussed charac- ters, lines, plots together with [director] Sean Buhagiar, and I genuinely believe everyone was making an effort to bring out the best and improve what was given to them on paper." Apart from the two leads, the cast also features theatre vet- erans like Żep Camilleri, Lilian Pace Vassallo, Philip Mizzi, Pe- ter Galea, It-Triccas and comedy stalwart Hector Bruno, as sup- ported by the likes of Kim Dalli, Ray Abdilla and Toni Busuttil. Raymond Fight Beck will be staged at Spazju Kreattiv at St James Cavalier, Valletta from March 10 to 18 at 20:00. Bookings: www.teatrumalta.org. mt, 21223200. The production is supported by Teatru Malta, Arts Council Malta/The Malta Arts Fund Project Support Grant, Spazju Kreattiv and Eurosport Davide Tucci in Raymond "Fight" Beck Metal Over Malta returns for a fourth edition at Chateau Buskett on March 9 and 10 Orphaned Land – headliners at last year's edition of Metal Over Malta Metal Over Malta organiser Sean Pollacco