Valletta becomes a performers’ playground this Friday as the launch of Creative Island finds musicians, actors and artistes taking to the streets. Nicole Cuschieri tells Ramona Depares about her plans for this new support network for the arts.

Nicole Cuschieri is the brains behind Creative Island.

Valletta’s St John’s Street is set to be transformed into a magical fairyland on Friday as a group of eclectic artists gather for an evening of street performances to celebrate the launch of Creative Island, an organisation that supports those who form part of the performing and the creative arts.

I’m encouraging everyone to come dressed the part; the theme is magic and wizardry and we will leave it up to the readers’ creative imagination to do the rest

Creative Island is Nicole Cuschieri’s brainchild; the theatre director made a strong name for herself on the local scene with a series of quirky comedy sketches called The Burlesque Show. The shows always play to packed houses and the next edition is lined up for July 13-15 at Surfside, Sliema.

By then, Cuschieri aims to have Creative Island firmly established as the ‘go-to’ portal for anyone involved in the arts and Friday’s event is but the first step.

The hub of the evening will centre around L’Ingliż Tea Rooms and the concept is akin to that of a specialised funfair, with the theme being “fun and wizardry”.

“Everyone is invited to show up from 8 p.m. onwards, which is when we will be serving elixirs and potions, cupcakes and pastizzi. There will even be a fortune-teller in residence; a benign one, of course, whose ‘predictions’ will contain more than a touch of tongue-in-cheek humour,” Cushieri explains.

The shows kick off at 9.45 p.m., with live music by Bark, Bark Disco (Ian Schranz) and Katryna Storace from Stolen Creep. A mime show by Marie-Claire Camilleri follows at 10.15 p.m., while the notorious Ċikku l-Poplu, whose satirical, rhyming songs usually have everyone in fits of laughter, is set to go on at10.30 p.m.

Ċikku l-Poplu is expected to sing favourite numbers from past Burlesque shows, a rare occurence that will surely make regular followers extremely happy.

“After Ċikku’s performance the fun continues and I plan to set up some nostalgic playground games like ‘Pin the tail on the donkey’ and hopscotch. I really want to get that nostalgia factor going, it’s all a silly bit of fun.

“However, I’m encouraging everyone to come dressed the part; the theme is magic and wizardry and we will leave it up to the readers’ creative imagination to do the rest.”

Cuschieri hopes that this event will pave the way for other, bigger festivals. However, Creative Island extends to more than a series of festivals and events. Through the website www.creativeisland.zigpress.com, Cuschieri is offering a threefold support system to all those who are involved in the arts.

The site, which launches today, offers an events booking section as well as an online shop, enabling Maltese arts and crafts makers to sell their work via internet – the concept is very much in keeping with the well-loved portal Etsy.com.

Moreover, all those who are in some way involved in the arts can register through the site to form part of a national database of performers and workers in ancillary arts. Cuschieri explains that the site will take on the role of ‘agency’ for the arts on a national level, identifying employment opportunities for the members.

Finally, the site advises visitors about any training opportunities that are being organised through Creative Island.

“One of the reasons I set up Creative Island was so that I could help artists equip themselves with better skills. Between July and October I am organising the first set of workshops and will be bringing over foreign tutors and a summer art camp style training programme,” Cuschieri says.

So far, there are four workshops planned – Commedia dell’Arte, tutored by Paola Cavallin; Corporeal Mime, tutored by Stuart Luis; Stand-Up Comedy, tutored by Logan Murray, and Puppetry, tutored by Mark Whitaker. More information about each individual workshop can be found on the website.

The Creative Island launch is taking place on June 15 at and around L-Ingliż Tea-Rooms, St John’s Street, Valletta.