Conference to discuss Maltese theatre

The scenario for Maltese theatre in 2020 will be discussed by people active in the field during a conference in the Manoel Theatre's Sala Isouard on Saturday.

Vicki Ann Cremona, academic coordinator of the Mediterranean Institute's theatre studies programme, feels one of the issues which should be tackled is the need for a higher criteria of selectivity at the Manoel.

Dr Cremona would also like to see a more democratic and transparent system of promoting theatre and to see young actors being encouraged to raise the level of productions.

Another issue which she hopes will be debated during the workshops is the backstage criteria of the new theatre.

"The new Malta Council for Culture and the Arts has still not defined its policy on theatre, so now is the time for all of us to get together and define what is needed," she said.

The full-day conference, organised in collaboration with the Manoel, will also include two workshops during which participants will be asked to build possible scenarios for the theatre.

Dr Cremona said the EU was currently promoting a new methodology which aimed to create a wide-base consensus that provides a new bottom-up outlook for the creation of policies.

"This conference is intended to apply this new methodology to the field of the arts, with a particular focus on theatre," she said.

The main objective of the conference is to encourage wider participation in the initial processes of policy making for culture.

It is also aiming to provide guidelines for an action-oriented vision involving all potential contributors and develop recommendations to be incorporated into future policies where culture is a main feature.

The conference, which is free, is open to all those interested in this field.

It will be held between 9.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. For more information call tel. 21 331615 or send an e-mail to vicki.cremona@um.edu.mt