Six local acts, three consecutive nights, one amazing theatre, and with the end of the year fast approaching, it must be time for Go Teatru Unplugged again. And as with every edition before it, this year’s 15th edition, once again to be held at the Manoel Theatre, is packed with exciting acts to ensure a great night out for all those planning to attend.
A much-anticipated fixture on Malta’s annual cultural calendar, Teatru Unplugged has always strived to offer the Maltese public quality entertainment by putting together a line-up of established acts while also offering new opportunities to budding artists.
As a result, it has achieved something of a cult following with a high percentage of repeat guests year after year. The protagonists at this year’s Go Teatru Unplugged are Scar, Fire, Peter, Papps and Friends, Alex Alden, Skarlet and Duo Kukkanja – a mixture of melodic rock, pop and acoustic gems, all flavoured by a variety of other musical elements that practically guarantee the event’s success.
And making sure everything goes with the flow, Gordon and Rodney will be taking on the role of presenters and entertaining the audience in between acts.
Interview with Nirvana Azzopardi and Jonathan Shaw
Fifteen editions down the line, in what ways has the production of this show changed and how different is it from what was offered in the first edition?
We’ll feature any genre as long as it can be performed unplugged
Nirvana: The first year was the hardest, production-wise. From then on it got easier. What the event offers hasn’t changed much – for the artists it’s a wonderful platform on which to shine, and for the audience it’s a great night out.
Jonathan: I think we’ve evolved and refined the show over the years to a more professional set-up with higher standards, yet the roots have remained identical to that first show. It is essentially a fast-moving event with diverse acts that gel together to create a great night out at the Manoel.
Given the concept has remained the same, what are the major difficulties you face every year in trying to maintain the event’s freshness and innovative qualities?
N: Yes, the fact that the formula has stayed the same does offer a challenge to maintain the interest of the audience. It is also a challenge to find new musical acts that are ‘Teatru Unplugged worthy’.
There is a lot of talent on the island but sometimes a band might not be ready for such a performance too early in their musical career. It is also challenging to create the right balance between the acts and to have as much musical diversity as possible in one night.
J: Time is an issue, in that from a production point of view I wish I can actually be out there listening to more artists and actually scouting new talent. Nonetheless, we do get many requests and one major difficulty is selecting the final six acts, as you end up leaving out a large number of acts that also approach us.
A big chunk of your audience consists of people who faithfully turn up year after year… what is it about Teatru Unplugged that keeps them coming back?
N: I think it is just a fantastic night out. The audience likes to be introduced to new local talent as well as enjoy some of our best veteran talent all in one night. I think the magic of the theatre also has something to do with it.
J: I fully agree that we have a niche following, and having a continuous run of 15 years is no mean feat. Teatru Unplugged is quite a unique event with a mixture of great music and humour from our comperes, plus the theatre does add an aura to the whole vibe.
How do you go about selecting candidates for your initiative to support young talent and, of all the children you’ve supported to date, is there anyone who stands out in your mind?
N: We scout around and visit singing teachers and schools. Choosing one is next to impossible as they are all very talented in different ways and each of them brought something special to Teatru Unplugged.
J: Besides scouting, we also get recommendations and we organise auditions. The aim of this initiative is primarily to give an opportunity of a great real performance to a young person. I think one young talent that really stood out for me was Megan Balzan.
To date, Teatru Unplugged has featured a wide range of genres – from folk to rock, pop, classical and even electronic music, which reflects your aim to cater for everyone’s taste. Are there any genres you won’t consider and any in particular you want to feature but haven’t had the opportunity yet?
N: We will feature any genre as long as it can be performed unplugged. I do not think there are any we would like to feature and have not had the opportunity, no.
J: I can list a few of genres that as of today I would never consider shortlisting, yet one never knows. Opinions and tastes also evolve with time, so its probably wise to keep all options open.
This year’s line-up features some familiar faces such as Scar, Peter and Papps, but most are new to the stage such as Alex Alden, Duo Kukkanja, Fire and Skarlet.
N: As of a few years back, we have an artistic board which has been instrumental in choosing the acts. They are all musicians so they have their fingers placed firmly on the local musical pulse, which is a huge bonus for us. In the end it always comes down to balance; trying to achieve the right balance between new and established acts, different genres, male and female voices.
J: One crucial element in producing Teatru Unplugged is that decisions are taken based on my gut feeling as being a potential patron in the audience. It’s a simple formula, but one that is sometimes overlooked by most event producers who lose touch with the basic requisites of any event.
Go Teatru Unplugged 15 will be held at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta, on December 7, 8 and 9. Tickets cost €8, €15 and €18 and can be purchased online, by sending an e-mail to bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt or by calling 2124 6389.
www.teatrumanoel.com.mt