Simone Spiteri has been appointed as the Manoel Theatre’s drama consultant.
Spiteri will be focusing on ensuring the theatre’s calendar includes the highest level of drama in English and Maltese.
Along with the Manoel Youth Theatre under the guidance of Arts Education Consultant Rosetta de Battista and esteemed tutors, the theatre plans to nurture the younger generation and invest in upcoming talent.
Spiteri said: “I feel my role will ensure the theatre will deliver the arts in new and innovative ways, bringing together Malta’s established talent together with the younger generation who have a passion for theatre.”
She added that the Manoel wants to design projects and produce theatre that will fulfill its artistic obligations as the national theatre and make the public want to come back for more.
“Together with the rest of the theatre team we are completely dedicated to ensuring that creative and performing arts play a key role in society,” she said.
Spiteri trained for her Diploma in Acting at the Malta Drama Centre and obtained her BA (Hons.) and MA in Theatre Studies at the University of Malta. A number of her works have been produced and performed in Denmark, Egypt, Sicily, Spain and Macedonia. She won first prize in the national Francis Ebejer playwriting contest in 2009 and 2011.
With this new appointment and Brian Schembri as the theatre’s music consultant, the team is now complete.
The Manoel has been co-producing a number of dramatic works with drama companies and commissioning others.
For the 2011/12 season, the Manoel Theatre team launched new branding guidelines for theatre performances and an arts educational programme, entitled Toi Toi, which incorporates the Manoel’s Youth Theatre.
It purchased the theatre’s harpsichord, relaunched the costume house and completed the new backstage area, which will give aspiring actors and theatre companies the opportunity to rehearse and perform in the best possible conditions.
Over the coming weeks the theatre will also be redesigning the museum and will be launching audio-guided tours for locals, school groups and tourists.