The Malta Amateur Dramatic Club’s (MADC) Playhouse is abuzz with activity as this year’s edition of the Club’s iconic One Act Play Festival looms. Now in its 44th edition, the festival has year after year been the springboard for aspiring directors, actors and crew, offering them their first taste of life on stage and behind the scenes.
This year’s edition will run from 7 to 10 September at the Playhouse in Sta Venera. Five plays will be presented, each performed twice over the course of the weekend.
“The MADC One Act Play Festival forms a seminal part of the Club’s annual programme,” says Marylu Coppini, MADC’s Artistic Director. “Since its inception in 1979, it has been one of the Club’s constants, annually offering an opportunity to act, direct or discover the various aspects of backstage to newcomers keen to explore life in the theatre. A good number of Malta’s established theatre practitioners started their careers at the One Acts, and the festival’s popularity shows no sign of waning.”
This year’s line-up offers a mix of dramas and comedies. On Thursday 7 and Saturday 9 September, the plays that will be presented are Funeral Tea by Pat Wilson, Three More Sleepless Nights by Caryl Churchill, and Something in the Genes by Don Woods.
Interior: Panic (A One-Act Play) by Tennessee Williams and Audition For A Writer by Doris M. Day will be performed on Friday 8 and Sunday 10 September. There will be a 15-minute interval between each play on all performance nights.
Awards will be given for Best Production, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Most Promising Actor, and Most Promising Actress; and the presentation ceremony will take place on Sunday 10 September after the performance of the final play.
“There is nothing more satisfying than collaborating with a team of people to produce a play and present it for audiences to enjoy,” concludes Coppini. “Moreover, the chance of contributing to Malta’s continually thriving theatre scene is really quite unique, and the One Acts is an excellent place to start that journey.”
The MADC One Act Play Festival 2023 will take place at the MADC Playhouse, Sta Venera on 7, 8, 9 and 10 September at 7:30pm and is suitable for audiences aged 16 and older. Tickets for Thursday 7 and Friday 8 September are €12, and tickets for Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September are €15. For booking and further information visit www.madc.com.mt.
