Energising workshops

Masquerade Theatre Arts School will be organising a 10-day summer training programme in the performing arts (acting, dance and singing) led by top UK practitioners.

These workshops aim to develop performers’ skills in a number of areas including technique, improvisation skills, team building, musical theatre and performance.

This year the school has invited three tutors from the UK who have been working professionally in the West End and are specialised in their respective fields.

The Summer Experience 2012 will also give students a unique opportunity to train on popular musicals including Matilda, Mack & Mabel and Shrek.

A variety of workshops for different age groups will be organised, giving a chance to both newcomers and experienced participants to work with experts specialised in teaching the performing arts.

Workshops have been designed to cater for children and youngsters from the age of seven up to adults.

Musical director Steve Clark will be leading the singing workshop.

In recent years he has been working successfully in the West End and his credits include Blood Brothers, Fame, Phantom of the Opera, Dusty, The Commitments, The Blues Brothers, Grease and Carousel.

Mr Clark developed his own successful recording and production studio and has made stage appearances with artistes including Elton John, George Michael, Sting and Bette Midler.

In 2006 he founded the Performing Arts academy So You Wanna Be! and runs schools/workshops throughout the UK for budding young performers.

The drama training will be led by Claire Bryan, who is the drama director at the So You Wanna Be Performing Arts School UK and has had many European tour credits. Her productions include Hair and The Beggars Opera, and she has recently completed UK tours of The Naked Truth and the musical Eva Cassidy.

Jonathan Mawson will be responsible for the dance sessions. He recently toured the UK on High School Rocks, and has just finished his stint as “swing” in the West End show Legally Blonde: The Musical.

The workshops will be held between July 23 and August 4.

For bookings, send an e-mail to info@masquerademalta.com.

Visual Arts

Till Saturday
Tra mare e terra
Paola Failla, a refined artist endowed with deep aesthetic sensibility, is showing her works at the Italian Cultural Institute, St George Square, Valletta. Her basic element is colour, which goes from stronger shades to very faint patinas barely hinted at. The exhibition is being held under the patronage of the Comune della Città di Padova and Regione Veneto. Opening hours: From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission.

Till July 13
Diamond Jubilee Exhibition
A unique collection of photographs featuring images throughout Queen Elizabeth’s remarkable 60-year reign, including her many visits to Malta, as well as rare images from her childhood, are on display at the British High Commission, Whitehall Mansions, Ta’ Xbiex.

There will be a special late opening today from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Till July 21
Selina Scerri works
The latest collection of work by Maltese artist Selina Scerri created over the past year in Madrid, Rome and Malta is being presented at Lily Agius Gallery, Sliema. Open Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or by appointment.

www.lilyagiusgallery.com

Till July22
Wiċċ Imb’Wiċċ – Images of the Self
An exhibition presenting self-representations by 10 local and international artists that raise general questions of identity within social, historical and gender-related contexts. All artworks have never been shown in Malta, with most artists creating entirely new works especially for the exhibition. Opening hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

www.maltaartsfestival.org

Performing Arts

Today, tomorrow
The Beckett Project I: Happy Days
Happy Days is the Llanarth Group’s latest addition to the Beckett Project and will be premièred in Malta during the Malta Arts Festival’s Theatre Week. At Couvre Porte, Vittoriosa at 9 p.m.

Saturday, Sunday
The Beckett Project II: Four Short Plays
The second part of the Beckett Project in Malta features four celebrated Beckett shorts – Ohio Impromptu, Not I, Act Without Words I and Rockaby. The evening is being presented as an exclusive thespian/gastronomic event at Palazzo de Piro in Mdina. The performances start at 8 p.m.

Concerts/Music

Tomorrow and Saturday
Genny Ray Live
Coach and Horses and Hairyamp are bringing British noir singer-songwriter Gemma Ray for a performance at Coach and Horses in Birkikara. Championed by the likes of Nick Cave (she has opened for Grinderman) and Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, the singer arrives in Malta in support of her critically acclaimed fourth album Island Fire. For tickets visit the Facebook events page or phone 9984 8199 or 9984 6382.

Tomorrow
Piano recital
Michaela Galea will be giving a solo piano recital at the Aula Mgr G. Farrugia as part of the Victoria International Arts Festival at 8 p.m.

Saturday
Violin and piano recital
Violinist Jean Noel Attard and pianist Joanne Camilleri are taking part in the Emerging Artists Series as part of the Malta Arts Festival. The recital is being held at St James Cavalier at 11 a.m.

Sunday
Saxophone and Piano Recital
Batera Duo are giving a recital at the Music Room of St James Cavalier as part of the Malta Arts Festival’s Emerging Artists Series. Saxophonist Philip Attard and pianist Christine Zerafa will be giving some fine music-making at 11 a.m.

Other

Tomorrow
Dwar l-Arti tal-Poeżija
The Malta Classics Association is launching a translation of Aristotle’s Poetics. This first book-publication is being hosted by Għaqda Talent Mosti during a cultural evening being held at the Razzett tal-Marikiż in Mosta.

Till Saturday
International choreographers for Dance Hybrid
Two renowned choreographers are in Malta for the 11th International Dance Hybrid at the Dance Workshop studios in Guardamangia, hosted by Contact Dance Company artistic director Francesca Abela Tranter.

The International Dance Hybrid aims to give aspiring dancers opportunities to explore new ideas. Every year Contact Dance Company invites international artists to challenge participants and to convey the qualities and demands required from professional dancers.

Participants must be open to creating improvised suggestions and compositions.

For information send an e-mail to francescatranter@gmail.com

Sunday
Lejn Xefaq Ġdid
A 20-kilometre bike ride is being held to raise funds for LXG (Lejn Xefaq Ġdid). The ride starts from Domus Romana, Rabat at 7.30 a.m. sharp ending at Sliema. More information may be obtained by phone on 7991 2714 or e-mail bikeridelxg@gmail.com

Feasts

Saturday
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Kerċem;

Sunday
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Fgura, Gżira; St Joseph, Kirkop; The Annunciation, Balzan; St Joseph, Kalkara; Immaculate Conception, Ħamrun;

Useful contacts

St James Cavalier
Tel: 2122 3200
E-mail: info@sjcav.org
www.sjcav.org

Manoel Theatre
Tel: 2124 6389
bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt
www.manoeltheatre.com.mt

To submit a cultural event e-mail: arts@timesofmalta.com