OAR@UM Community: Helen Aquilina (née Saliba), born on 19th June 1929, is an amateur actress who was active primarily in the immediate post-World War II period. She started performing on public stages with the Malta Union of Teachers’ acting troupe in 1949 - beginning her acting career in a play authored by Ġorġ Pisani, which Francis Ebejer also took part in. After a short time, she joined Watty Cachia’s troupe (Kumpanija tal-Proza ‘Cachia’). She also performed in Italian with Company Bisazza, set up by Bice Bisazza and her husband. As was often the case at the time, Helen retired from the stage in 1956, upon getting married. After this, through Ines Soler’s initiative, she got involved in Rediffusion for some time - performing in drama and translating plays into Maltese. This collection of photographs, from Helen Aquilina’s personal archive, is an invaluable source of documentation on post-World War II theatre-making.Helen Aquilina (née Saliba), born on 19th June 1929, is an amateur actress who was active primarily in the immediate post-World War II period. She started performing on public stages with the Malta Union of Teachers’ acting troupe in 1949 - beginning her acting career in a play authored by Ġorġ Pisani, which Francis Ebejer also took part in. After a short time, she joined Watty Cachia’s troupe (Kumpanija tal-Proza ‘Cachia’). She also performed in Italian with Company Bisazza, set up by Bice Bisazza and her husband. As was often the case at the time, Helen retired from the stage in 1956, upon getting married. After this, through Ines Soler’s initiative, she got involved in Rediffusion for some time - performing in drama and translating plays into Maltese. This collection of photographs, from Helen Aquilina’s personal archive, is an invaluable source of documentation on post-World War II theatre-making.https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1477542026-07-06T19:21:00Z2026-07-06T19:21:00ZHelen Saliba and Twanny Scalpello in the play "La Traviata" [3] (Photograph)https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1478292026-07-06T10:25:22Z1954-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Helen Saliba and Twanny Scalpello in the play "La Traviata" [3] (Photograph)
Abstract: A photo of actress Helen Aquilina (née Saliba) and actor Twanny Scalpello in a theatrical play version of "La Traviata", which was possibly held in 1954. The photo was taken by Francis Crockford (F'Crockford). The production was presented either at the Manoel Theatre, in Valletta, or at the Orpheum Theatre, in Gżira.
Description: Photo has the letter "T" and play title "La Traviata" written on the back. Photo was donated by Helen Aquilina.1954-01-01T00:00:00Z"La Traviata" in performance [4] (Photograph)https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1478282026-07-06T10:25:52Z1954-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: "La Traviata" in performance [4] (Photograph)
Abstract: A photo of a production of a theatrical play version of "La Traviata" in performance, which was possibly held in 1954. The photo features Victor Aquilina (second man from the left), Mary Camilleri (third woman from the left, Watty Cachia (man in the middle, with a lighter coloured suit jacket than the other male actors), Mary Rose Bonello (third visible woman from the right, holding a dish), and Twanny Scalpello (second visible man from the right). The production was presented either at the Manoel Theatre, in Valletta, or at the Orpheum Theatre, in Gżira.
Description: Photo has the letter "L" written on the back and the play title "La Traviata" written on the back. Photo was donated by Helen Aquilina.1954-01-01T00:00:00Z"La Traviata" in performance [3] (Photograph)https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1478272026-07-06T10:26:06Z1954-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: "La Traviata" in performance [3] (Photograph)
Abstract: A photo of a production of a theatrical play version of "La Traviata" in performance, which was possibly held in 1954. The photo features Helen Aquilina (née Saliba) (woman from the in the front left, with white dress and fan), Twanny Scalpello (man in the front left, interacting with Helen Saliba), Mary Camilleri (fourth woman from the left, in the back next to the table), Evarist Saliba (second man from the right), and Antoinette Giulia (second woman from the right). The production was presented either at the Manoel Theatre, in Valletta, or at the Orpheum Theatre, in Gżira.
Description: Photo has the letter "B" and the play title "La Traviata" written on the back. Photo was donated by Helen Aquilina.1954-01-01T00:00:00ZHelen Saliba and an unknown actor in the play "La Traviata" (Photograph)https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1478262026-07-06T10:26:21Z1954-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Helen Saliba and an unknown actor in the play "La Traviata" (Photograph)
Abstract: A photo of actress Helen Aquilina (née Saliba) and an unknown actor in a theatrical play version of "La Traviata", which was possibly held in 1954. The photo was taken by Sultana's Photo Lab. The production was presented either at the Manoel Theatre, in Valletta, or at the Orpheum Theatre, in Gżira.
Description: Photo has number "20" and play title "La Traviata" on the back. Photo was donated by Helen Aquilina.1954-01-01T00:00:00Z