Theatre project embraced

I am writing to express my gratitude for the wonderful treatment and hospitality I received during my recent visit to Malta. I came from London to finalise the collaboration between Theatre Studio West, the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth and Sport and the Malta Drama Centre, where I will be bringing over a young, culturally diverse cast to perform Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in July.

My special thanks should go to Mario Azzopardi, director of the Malta Drama Centre, who coordinated my three-day visit with dedication and precision and who arranged all my meetings on the island. Then there is a list of persons to whom I feel indebted for the friendliness and attention they gave me and the interest they showed in our forthcoming production. Among these I should mention Claudia Calleja and Darrin Zammit Lupi from The Times, Judie Farrugia, general manager of the spectacular Manoel Theatre, Karl Schembri from Malta Today, Lourdes Pullicino from Net TV, John Bundy of PBS, Lynn Faure at Education 22, Jon Rosser who edits Showtime for The Times and the lovely staff at the Malta Drama Centre. I should also thank Joyce Guillaumier who interviewed me by phone prior to my visit for Campus FM and her cultural feature page in It-Torċa.

Thank you all for your time and kindness.

My last meeting was with Clyde Puli, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport, and I was overwhelmed by his munificence and prophetic vision. The prospects for further collaboration I found most exciting and I hope that my visit to Malta will open more cultural doors for young people in Malta and London.

The year 2008 is designated as the year for European Intercultural Dialogue and if Europe needs any testimony of it, then they need look no further than the manner in which the people of Malta I met on my trip welcomed me and understood where I am coming from.

I can hardly wait to bring the Theatre Studio West cast over to share the experience in July.