As children re-open their satchels for the next phase of their formal education, The Manoel Theatre opens its curtains for the next stage of their cultural development.

Now entering its fouth season, Toi Toi, The Manoel Theatre’s education programme, devised and managed by educator and music therapist Rosetta Debattista, continues to expand its reach across the three main genres of the performing arts: dance, drama and music.

It is widely accepted that children’s participation in and exposure to the arts helps them achieve more certificates and higher grades by expanding their intellectual capabilities

“While not every child will become a dancer, actor or musician, exposure to these art forms at an early age helps them develop into more rounded adults by spurring on other skills, instilling confidence and helping them overcome difficulties. It broadens their minds and strengthens their mental ability,” Rosetta explained.

“In this coming season Toi Toi has, therefore, added to the already very successfully concerts for babies to six-year-olds, a series of plays in Maltese titled PIKuŻi, as well as dance performances specially designed for children and teenagers.”

PIKuŻi is a beautifully written set of plays in Maltese covering relevant topics for seven to 11-year-olds. They are written and delivered with humour, and deal with issues that are very real for children of this age. The first one is about the Maltese language, its beauty, and its challenges, with special reference to proverbs. It engages the children in an interactive manner. PIKuŻi can also travel to schools as part of the Toi Toi Travels programme.

The idea of the dance series Toi Toi Moves is to introduce contemporary dance to the young in a format that they can relate to. Each event will include a section where children discuss the material presented with the dancers, allowing them to come closer to the world of dance.

These dance performances are created and performed by Malta’s two leading contemporary dance companies: Żfin Dance Ensemble and Moveo Dance Company.

Toi Toi is not, however, just for children and includes the very popular pre-concert talks. Toi Toi Travels, apart from expanding its journeys to schools, will also be taking live music to retirement homes, to people that perhaps cannot make it to the theatre.

“Toi Toi has had very positive feedback in every area, whether it was the The Manoel Theatre’s Youth Theatre and Opera groups, its concerts for kids or its Travels to Schools,” Rosetta said. Its success is due to all the hard work from the team.

Charlie Siem will be giving a violin workshop at Toi Toi.

Neil Briscoe White prepares every pre-concert talk, the wonderful groups of musicians involved in the concerts and the background preparation for the Youth Theatre and opera sessions. Although I designed the Toi Toi programme and am responsible for the direction that Toi Toi travels in, it is also the commitment of the CEO, the Board of The Manoel Theatre and its small hardworking team that have made the Arts Education Programme such a success.”

These cultural events will not provide end-of-year certificates and grades, but it is widely accepted that children’s participation in and exposure to the arts helps them achieve more certificates and higher grades by expanding their intellectual capabilities.

The first Toi Toi event of the season takes place on October 5 at 4pm with an interactive workshop given by world-renowned violinist Charlie Siem, who will take children aged seven and over on a musical journey to experience the magical world of the violin and classical music.

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