Ramona Depares Award Winner

Malta culture

Mid-Djarju ta’ Student Fi Skola Tal-Knisja: Gold

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Jamie Cardona in Mid-Djarju ta' Student Fi Skola Tal-Knisja. Photo on the right: Owen Michael Grech I approached Mid-Djarju ta' Student Fi Skola Tal-Knisja with some mixed feelings. On the one hand, the one time I had seen actor and writer Jamie Cardona in action (those words are about to get a very different meaning) was in Il-Giddieb Għomru Twil, where he made a simply … [Read more...] about Mid-Djarju ta’ Student Fi Skola Tal-Knisja: Gold

Curious Beauty: an enthrallingly daring narrative

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Curious Beauty, organised by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti and under the artistic direction of Francesca Balzan and Caroline Tonna. All photos by Kevin Casha. Walking into Palazzo Falzon I’m greeted by a gorgeous lace gown. I can see every minute detail of the design, the intricate lacework, the way the small, intriguing parts come together to make a stunning whole. This is … [Read more...] about Curious Beauty: an enthrallingly daring narrative

Masquerade’s Oliver! The Musical

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Masquerade's Oliver! The Musical follows a long list of similarly spectacular largescale productions that included Mamma Mia The Musical and My Fair Lady (FM Theatre). I'm of an age where I remember the days that the idea of staging a full musical in Malta was ludicrous. We have had many, so many, excerpts with the most well-known pieces. But the real deal with costumes, … [Read more...] about Masquerade’s Oliver! The Musical

Her Say Not Hearsay Review

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Women's Day may be a gimmick, but it does serve as springboard to some genuinely useful initiatives. The production of Her Say, Not Hearsay, which opened at Spazju Kreattiv yesterday, is one such example. Directed by Charlotte Grech, who also performs, the play presents three original monologues related to women's issues - the lack of female rights during wartime, menopause and … [Read more...] about Her Say Not Hearsay Review

The Beauty Queen of Leenane: as funny as it is chilling

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I was thrilled when I read that Adrian Buckle was directing The Beauty Queen of Leenane as part of the MADC programme. I've been a Martin McDonagh fan ever since I watched The Banshees of Inisherin. Very few playwrights do love/hate relationships as ruthlessly as McDonagh, and I figured that Buckle - as I had witnessed through the Unifaun Productions glory days - was … [Read more...] about The Beauty Queen of Leenane: as funny as it is chilling