The first Theatre Studies First Year Festival dealt with the theme of blurred boundaries on a number of levels. Sandra Aquilina talks to Theatre Studies lecturer and research coordinator Stefan Aquilina.

Students created wildly different pieces for the festival. Photo: Elisa von Brockdorff

A modern retelling of a classic fairy tale, which also exposes the possible dangers of online networking; a piece about personal identity; the idea of how time blurs fine epoch periodisation – all were pieces forming part of the recent Theatre Studies First Year Festival held recently at the MITP.

The theme was blurred boundaries and students took advantage of the possibilities of the subject, creating wildly different pieces.

Fairytale and reality, physical theatre, comedy and shadow work, dance-oriented and text-based pieces all came together, providing refractions on the subject.

Students were initially given several workshops on how to devise theatre and performance material. Eventually, under the eye of course tutor Stefan Aquilina, they wrote, directed and performed their own pieces.

“The festival was aimed at giving students the chance to create a theatre piece through the use of their own equipment as performers: their body, voice, creativity, and team work,” says Aquilina.

“Beyond the acting dimension, students were also responsible for other aspects like the performance’s lights and sound technicalities, promotion, bookings and so on. This guaranteed an all-round pedagogical experience on how to run a successful theatre event.”

Aquilina points out that the festival forms part of the Department of Theatre Studies’ commitment to give its students a holistic and all-round university education in theatre and performance. This year, the department – within the School of Performing Arts of the University of Malta – has launched its revamped undergraduate degree course, where a great deal of attention was given to 21st-century developments in education, culture and employability.

Throughout their three years of study, students are given various opportunities to integrate theory and practice, not only by attending seminars, lectures, conferences and the like, but also through direct hands-on experience.

Apart from the festival, students can also choose to engage in a number of other practical possibilities, including training in performance laboratory and pro-duction, practise as research, collective performances with the departments of dance and music and workshop opportunities with foreign practitioners.

“This practical teaching features alongside numerous industry placements and other lecture-based units to impart the transferable skills and knowledge necessary for graduates to contribute to a fast-growing performance and cultural scene,” says Aquilina.

Fairytale and reality, physical theatre, comedy and shadow work, dance-oriented and text-based pieces all came together

Since the festival was a first, a number of challenges had to be overcome, from logistical issues of timetabling and space to teamwork.

“The festival was created and performed at the MITP theatre in Valletta and its flexibility was indeed an asset in allowing for the students’ experimentation. More theatre spaces, especially on campus, would undoubtedly encourage students’ participation in artistic and cultural events.”

The students also had to deal with working together as micro ensembles.

“It is not always easy to combine the mix of individual skill and levels of experience that come with some productions. However, this was exactly one of the festival’s objectives: to prepare students for project-based work in the world out there.”

Will the department be going for a second edition next year? “Definitely. This year’s success is a clear indication that the department has taken the right direction.

“Students starting their Theatre Studies course in October will also have the opportunity to stage their own festival. But it is too early to plan ahead beyond venue logistics, because such an event is closely tied to its participants and their own set of particular skills, needs, talents, and personalities. However, students can rest assured of another empowering and hands-on experience.”

How does the local theatre scene feed into the university department... and how do students in turn influence the theatre scene?

“There is undoubtedly a lot of going on and the scene has developed markedly with a lot of diverse work ranging from theatre in both Maltese and English, applied work, opera, theatre in and with the community, theatre for children, physical performance, multidisciplinary work and so on. This diversity on such a small island is, in my opinion, one of the scene’s strengths.”

Although theatre in Malta is still often an amateur practice, there are now various individuals and organisations who took the plunge and are seeking to turn professional.

“Their efforts need to be lauded and supported. Pedagogy has been instrumental to the scene’s growth and I would like to see more opportunities for long-term training. The Department of Theatre Studies has a lot to offer here, as is clear from the fact that many of its graduates hold leading positions within the sectors of the performing arts, education, culture, management and diplomacy.”

How does he describe good theatre? “I believe that it is the type of theatre which can actually blur boundaries, one that engages me on different levels. I want to go to the theatre and engage emotionally with a performance, but I also want it to make me think.

“I appreciate performances which are not afraid of taking certain risks, but which are still grounded in strong aesthetics.”

A statement which also describes very well what the students set out to achieve through their various performances at the theatre festival.

The Department of Theatre Studies will be introducing an MA in Theatre and Performance in October. For more infor-mation send an e-mail to theatre.spa@um.edu.mt.

www.um.edu.mt/