The second edition of the national short play festival Skeċċ is being held at Spazju Kreattiv, in Valletta, from tomorrow, June 4 to Saturday, June 6. Eight original short plays in Maltese or English, each running for about 10 to 20 minutes, will be performed multiple times per evening.
The themes explored this year range from political satire to hard-hitting subjects such as dementia, domestic violence, death and what lies beyond it, the environment, autism and more. But how can such complex issues be conveyed in just a few minutes?
“A short play presents a unique challenge, telling a story within a limited time frame, while maintaining the same energy and intensity as a full-length theatrical work. Yet, when well-written and performed, a short play can connect even more directly with the audience,” the festival’s director, Joseph Galea, says.
Galea is no newcomer to the short play format, having directed the annual Cospicua Short Play Festival ever since its inception nine years ago. He admits that Skeċċ is indeed inspired by the Cospicua event and that the two festivals collaborate, but is adamant that the two projects remain distinct, having different identities and objectives.
“The Cospicua Short Play Festival was created primarily as an opportunity for the local community to experience and engage with theatre. Skeċċ, on the other hand, is a non-competitive festival that attracts a wider theatre-going audience and offers a national platform for new theatrical works and emerging artists,” he explains.
Both events, however, reflects Galea’s belief that theatre festivals play an important role in supporting artists, encouraging new writing and creating cultural experiences for audiences.
“Together with other similar initiatives, they help strengthen the local theatrical landscape and provide valuable platforms for both theatre-makers and theatre-goers alike,” he says.
Skeċċ received a substantial number of submissions this year, both in Maltese and English.
“This year’s scripts present a variety of plays, from established authors, as well as new authors who simply wished to tell their stories. After a selection process, seven short plays were chosen, offering different themes, genres and styles,” Galea notes.
He adds that an eighth production was selected by the artistic direction of Spazju Kreattiv from the Cospicua Short Play Festival, as part of a collaboration with the Cospicua local council.
The creative teams will now spend the production week working together at Spazju Kreattiv, something Galea is particularly looking forward to.
“In these coming days, we envision transforming the space into a theatre laboratory,” he says.
“A true celebration of theatre”
The feedback received from the first edition of Skeċċ was “very positive”, both from audiences and participating artists.
“The response confirmed that there is a strong appreciation for the short play format,” the director points out.
“Audiences particularly valued the variety and pace of the programme, as well as the opportunity to experience different voices and styles within a single evening. Many also highlighted how the format makes contemporary theatre more accessible and engaging, especially for those who may not regularly attend longer productions.
“From the creative side, writers and directors appreciated the platform as an opportunity to experiment, take risks and present new work in a supportive environment.”
All this augurs well for this year’s edition and considering the number of plays being performed simultaneously, Galea is expecting “sizeable audiences”.
“Audiences should experience a true celebration of theatre, where they can enjoy a number of plays in a single evening,” he enthuses.
“This will not only enhance their enjoyment of the plays but also encourage them to continue attending performances at Spazju Kreattiv and other venues. Our ultimate goal is to increase interest in theatre and cultivate a love for theatre-going among audiences.”
The programme
The eight short plays being staged are:
Bla Kundizzjoni, written and directed by Stefan Galea Debono;
Ġewwa Barra, written and directed by Kim Woods;
Li Kieku Kellhom Jitkellmu, written and directed by Gilbert Mallia;
Il-Quċċija, written by Luke Hess and directed by Josue Formosa;
Tnax il-Siegħa, written by Renzo Bonello;
Jack ta’ Darba, written by Leanne Ellul and directed by Josette Ciappara;
This Breaking, written and directed by Maya Micallef Engerer; and
Que Sera Sera, written by Sarah Chetcuti and directed by Karl A. Schembri.
For a detailed performance schedule and tickets, visit spazjukreattiv.org.
Skeċċ is commissioned by Spazju Kreattiv.
