This weekend, Cospicua will be transformed into a living theatre as the ninth edition of the Cospicua Short Play Festival takes place on the 18th and 19th of September. For two days, the historic streets of the Santa Margherita area will serve as a stage for nine theatrical productions, in an event that combines art, culture and community in a unique setting.
This was announced by the Minister for Local Government and Public Works, Alison Zerafa Civelli together with the Mayor of Cospicua, Marco Agius, in the presence of representatives and participants involved in the festival.
This year, the festival will present seven competitive plays and two guest productions, Esplora and Opening Doors . The competitive productions were selected from 45 scripts submitted following an open call for authors. The seven selected authors then chose the directors, actors and groups that will bring their works to life.
Minister Alison Zerafa Civelli said that initiatives such as this demonstrate the important role that Local Councils play in promoting culture and strengthening communities. “The Cospicua Short Play Festival is a clear example of how Local Councils can create a space for Maltese artists, while bringing culture closer to the community and giving new life to our public spaces,” said the Minister. She stressed that the Government will continue to support cultural initiatives of this type that encourage local talent, strengthen the identity of localities and attract audiences from across the country.
The Mayor of Bormla, Marco Agius, thanked the Government for the help and support being given so that this activity can continue to take place and grow. He said that this support is crucial so that the Local Council can continue to invest in cultural activities that strengthen the Bormla community and place Bormla on the cultural map of our country.
For his part, the Artistic Director of this Festival, Joseph Galea explained that as part of this year’s edition, the Cospicua Local Council has also launched the first phase of the Cospicua Short Play Festival website. This platform will serve to give greater visibility to the festival, the productions and the artists who have given life to this initiative over the years.
The Cospicua Short Play Festival was first held in 2018, when the Cospicua Local Council applied for a funding scheme for cultural activities, with the aim of creating a strong cultural project that would have an impact on both the local community and the artistic sector. Since then, the festival has grown and established itself as an important event not only for Cospicua, but also in the cultural and theatrical calendar of our country.
Over the years, the festival has also served as an important platform for new artists to experiment and develop their skills, while offering established artists an opportunity to continue exploring different ideas and forms of theatre.
The ninth edition of the Cospicua Short Play Festival will take place on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th September, in the Santa Margerita area of Cospicua.
