Chosen from among hundreds of youth theatre companies from across the Commonwealth, Teatru Manoel Youth Theatre (TMYT) was one of the 10 groups of young artists given the opportunity to participate at the Tin Forest International Theatre Festival as part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme.
The cultural programme ran alongside the Commonwealth Games and the festival brought together a whole assembly of cultural variety providing participants with the most exciting of workshops and extremely diverse theatrical experiences. Members of TMYT performed their originally-devised piece Club, directed by Denise Mulholland and choreographed by Warren Bonello. This was first performed during the Żigużajg 2013 Festival.
TMYT member Luke Saydon described the experience as extremely satisfying. “Not only did audiences respond positively to our piece, but they were also emotionally engaged to what we were giving them. Tin Forest opened a gate of opportunities as well as new friendships and networks between different companies.
“Working closely with established professional theatre veterans, engaging in cultural exchange as well as performing to an international audience marks Tin Forest as an experience which will always be a landmark in my acting career.”
Leon Xuereb added: “The various theatrical traits explored in the workshops, some of which included improvisation, clowning and puppetry, were enriching both on a personal level for me as an actor performing as well as the devising of a theatrical piece.”
Three other TMYT students, Nicola Azzopardi, Ruth Borg and Karen Decelis were chosen as part of The Tin Forest International Performing Company, which was made up of young people between the ages of 16 and 25 from countries all over the Commonwealth.
Divided in groups they devised and performed a 10-minute piece, as well as an installation inspired by the book The Tin Forest, in different areas of Glasgow. In Karen Decelis’s words: “These two weeks were an unforgettable experience for us.”
Denise Mulholland, who directed and accompanied the group, summed up the whole experience as a fantastic opportunity to build networks with other groups and festival organisers from different countries. “This will, undoubtedly, lead to further interesting exchanges in the future,” she said.
Manoel Theatre CEO Ray Attard described the outcome as satisfying and one that justifies the investment in the field in order to offer local artists an opportunity to expand their horizons overseas, as well as showcasing local talent to the outside world.”
The other TMYT members taking part were Andrea Baldacchino, Antonella Mifsud, Bettina Paris, Justin Mamo, Mattea Fenech, Michaela Fenech, Philippa Cassar, Rebecca Camilleri, Robyn Vella, Rommel Grech, Sandie von Brockdorff and Stefanie Weenink.
TMYT is part of the Manoel Theatre’s Toi Toi Education Programme, which is devised and run by Rosetta Debattista. Auditions dates for new members will be announced online.
www.teatrumanoel.com.mt