Studio 18 has for another consecutive year been at the forefront of current, pertinent, issues and has ensured that they are brought to light through refreshing, new pieces.
As the end of 2018- 2019 season approaches, we look back at a hectic and thrilling eight months with great satisfaction and pride.
SYSTEM, a poignant piece devised by Muso Project, opened both our and Spazju Kreattiv's season, diving into expectations, obligations, and frustrations of our society, through a series of original songs penned by the acclaimed sister duo The New Victorians.
Our Creative Lab took the reins from there, immersing themselves into a Murder Mystery at the Carob Tree Food Court deep in the heart of Carob Tree - St. Julian’s new food court. Together with its slapstick comedy, 8 captivating suspects and an indulgent 7-course meal for audiences, it became the first of its kind locally. No mystery there… this event was a killer!
November saw an 18 month process come to fruition with iLAND: a performance in collaboration with ŻiguŻajg International Arts Festival for Children and Valletta 2018. The site-specific piece devised by and for young people explored what it means to be a teenager in Malta in 2018, and took our audiences through an intimate underground meet-up. After auditions, countless workshops and a series of testijiet, it is safe to say that our eleven young members took the ŻiguŻajg stage, or rather vaults, by storm. Special thanks goes to our International Consultant and this project’s co-director Paul Edwards, for spinning this piece on its head!
And these talented kids didn’t stop there. In February, Studio 18 launched its’ Young Creatives Development Programme which marks the legacy of the aforementioned 2018 project, and is committed to providing young people with a holistic approach to the creative arts. The programme, supported by Spazju Kreattiv and ŻiguŻajg, has involved a series of workshops led by Studio 18 members working in hand with several local artists.
Meanwhile, our 2019 kicked off with Barbetti’s HELP! Barbetti go Bohemian where Dean Zammit (lead), James Azzopardi Meli (baritone), Daniel Grixti (bass) and Luke Hili (tenor) along with guest singers Michela Agius, Mattea Gouder and Rebecca Attard stunned the St. Aloysius College theatre with medleys from The Beatles and Queen. These dynamic barbershop quarter also performed at Studio 18’s annual Muso Merlot.
With more musical madness and audience interaction than ever before, Muso Merlot featured songs from Disney Classics to Wicked, Company to A Chorus Line, The Last 5 Years, and golden oldies. Accompanying our lovely Muso Company was our resident regular John Cutajar on keys, along with Muso Leading Lady and Gent, Rachel Fabri Camilleri and Dean Zammit. Our very own Director Jean Marc Cafa’ also left his usual ‘behind the scenes’ post and joined in on the action making it a definitive night to remember.
Fuelled by Merlot, our Creative Lab team brought the season to an end with a piece by British writer Rebecca Brewer and dove into Montekristo’s Vaults to explore and challenge the 21st century realities, equality and work politics. DripFeed, a satire about the film industry and the stories people want to hear, is a metaphor which extends to numerous realities we face in our everyday lives.
Whether it was through song, slapstick, or satire, Studio 18 pushed and challenged the boundaries in our ever-changing society and we can only look forward to see what our next season has in store.
On behalf of Studio 18, we sincerely thank every single person who has been, in one way or another, part of our processes and journeys. From our directors to our marketing and admin team, our members, and our audiences and supporters – THANK YOU.
If you would like to join our dynamic team, or support us, make sure to keep an eye out for our Taster Day happening on Saturday 25 May, where you can step in and watch several of our members at work. To book a place, click here.
Be sure to keep up to date with our social media pages for more information about Auditions.
As always, WATCH THIS SPACE.
Denise Perini
Gabriela Méndez
Cultural Ambassadors 2018 – 2019
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