https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21925 2026-05-06T09:29:21Z 2026-05-06T09:29:21Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/138263 2025-08-22T08:53:50Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Il-Ħadd fuq il-Bejt : looking contextually into Francis Ebejer’s acclaimed play Abstract: This long essay will discuss Il-Ħadd fuq il-Bejt, one of Francis Ebejer’s most celebrated theatrical works, exploring its significance within the broader socio-political and cultural contexts of the sixties and seventies. By examining the play’s portrayal of personal and societal tensions, the long essay will highlight how Ebejer masterfully captures the complexities of a post-colonial Malta, grappling with themes of change whilst maintaining tradition. Besides a detailed analysis of the characters, the setting and the play’s impact on Maltese theatre, the essay also investigates the premiere of Il-Ħadd fuq il-Bejt at the Manoel Theatre in 1971, drawing on documentation from the national theatre’s archives. It explores how the production managed to attract large audiences, the critical acclaim it received and the subsequent reinterpretations through tributes, amateur performances and adaptations into other media such as television. Finally, the long essay reflects on whether the play, over five decades later, can still resonate with contemporary audiences and considers how a modern staging could preserve Ebejer’s original intentions while adapting it to current theatrical practices. Description: B.Theatre. (Hons)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/138262 2025-08-22T08:51:06Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Exploring the devising process in youth theatre : the case of Ignite Theatre company Abstract: This essay proposes that participating and engaging with the devising process within young theatre groups improves the creative ability, collaboration skills, and overall growth of actors. The essay begins by looking at the theoretical basis of devised theatre as well as youth theatre, with a special emphasis on their advantages for performers. This first part is informed by key books such as Alison Oddey’s Devising Theatre: A Practical and Theoretical Handbook (1994) and Deirdre Heddon and Jane Milling’s Devising Performance: A Critical History (2006), both of which provide insights into how devised theatre nurtures creativity, improvisation, and group work. Michael Richardson’s Youth Theatre: Drama for Life (2015) highlights the importance of youth theatre and how it can be implemented. An in-depth case study of Ignite, a youth theatre group recognised in Malta for its innovative performances, supports and exemplifies the research in the second part of the essay. The case study involves interviews with the company’s director and participants. This part focuses on the context and background of the company, as well as an exploration of the company’s devising methods. Ignite’s practical work is considered through an examination of their specific methods, including workshops, improvisation, and collaborative scriptwriting to see how ideas are created, developed, and perfected with aim of designing the final show. The case study findings highlight the advantages for performers, such as improved creative thinking, flexibility, and ensemble abilities. The conclusion summarises major observations from the case study and analysis and discusses the consequences for actor development. Description: B.Theatre. (Hons)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/138261 2025-08-22T08:48:52Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Exploring the potentials of virtual reality in theatre : two case studies Abstract: Virtual reality is an emerging medium that continues to evolve, and VR theatre, a relatively new reality, is still in the process of being explored and defined. This research aims to investigate the central question: ‘What are the benefits and limitations that VR theatre can offer to a performance?'. In order to thoroughly investigate this question, the research will begin by presenting key technologies involved in this kind of theatre. The research then moves towards analysing how the integration of immersive technologies, such as 360-degree performances, can impact an audience’s experience of watching ‘live’ theatre virtually from any location. Finally, as a practical application, two case studies will be explored; Edward II VR by Barn Theatre and Loveseat by Double Eye Studios. These will further illuminate the effects of VR theatre on the audience, its benefits, challenges, limitations, and potentials for the future. Description: B.Theatre. (Hons)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/126753 2024-09-23T05:55:56Z 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Acting the song : integrating Stanislavsky’s techniques and the estill method into musical theatre training Abstract: This dissertation studies how Stanislavsky’s techniques and the Estill Method, a voice training system focused on precise control of vocal structures for versatile and healthy vocal performance, can be integrated into the practice and training of Musical Theatre. The study aims to explore how performers can embody characters and express themselves through music, connecting their emotions with the essence of the song, a process that I refer to as ‘acting the song’. Using Practice as Research as the methodology, the study involves workshops with two performers to examine in practical terms the application of these techniques in Musical Theatre training. From Stanislavsky’s vast arsenal of techniques, the research focuses on Circles of Attention (First, Medium, and Large Circle), the Magic ‘If’, and Given Circumstances. These techniques are considered essential for allowing performers to engage with their characters, enhance their focus, and respond authentically to the imagined situations of the song. The application of Stanislavsky’s techniques in Musical Theatre will be considered as an instance of transmission, where acting practices are necessarily adapted once they migrate to different contexts. In the case of the Estill Method, the study will highlight its six vocal qualities, namely Speech, Sob, Belt, Falsetto, Twang, and Opera. These vocal qualities help performers to diversify their vocal expression and adapt their singing style to suit different emotional and situational contexts within a song. Mastering these qualities enables performers to convey a wide range of emotions and intentions, making their performance more dynamic and engaging. To support its argumentation, the dissertation includes interviews with two singers and vocal coaches, Ms Pamela Bezzina and Ms Rachel Fabri Camilleri. These interviews will provide insights into the benefits of the Estill Method and its application in Musical Theatre training. Other interviews were carried out with the participants of the workshops, which shed light on the practical use and advantages of combining Stanislavsky’s techniques and the Estill Method in Musical Theatre training. The dissertation therefore combines theoretical exploration, practical workshops, and interviews to shed light on how the field of Musical Theatre can benefit from the more holistic approach of acting, rather than simply, singing the song. Description: M.A.(Melit.)

2024-01-01T00:00:00Z