https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21547 2026-07-25T16:08:40Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148122 Title: The evolution of drama schools in Malta from MTADA till today Abstract: The aim of this study is to assess the progression that drama schools and actor training have gone through in the past fifty years since the Manoel Theatre Academy of Dramatic Art (MTADA), the first formal academy of its kind in Malta, was founded in 1977. It starts by defining the word ‘evolution’ in a biological sense and frames this around three key reference points, namely extinction, adaptability, and plasticity. The dissertation applies these terms in the local cultural and theatrical context and demonstrates how these have affected actor training in Malta. It explains that the term extinction does not necessarily mean that drama schools or theatre no longer exist in Malta but rather focuses on what has been lost or weakened within Maltese drama education. It will go on to demonstrate how schools had to adapt and constantly find ways to balance different pressures in order to survive while staying true to their values. Finally, the dissertation will also look into the future and enquire what Maltese theatre practitioners who are, or were, owners, educators, or leaders of their respective schools or academies envisage the future will hold for theatre and actor training in Malta. Description: B.A. (Hons)(Melit.) 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148015 Title: Performing academia : building a successful university career Authors: Aquilina, Stefan Abstract: Using an autoethnographic approach, this book offers practical strategies and case studies to help scholars better perform the many roles of an academic. With academic formation at its foundational core, the book presents practical strategies aimed at facilitating academic performance, particularly in the areas of research-informed teaching, interdisciplinarity and collaboration, community engagement and the development of an international academic profile. The view of academia that emerges is a holistic and integrated one, with teaching often adopted as the locus where pedagogy connects with research and outreach. While the case studies presented are rooted in theatre and performance, the emerging concerns are relevant to anyone engaged in higher education. The book begins as a reflection on the author's own university career, revolving around 15 years of experience at the University of Malta and consistent engagement with research methodologies, reflective teaching, networking, internationalization and the duties associated with administration and senior management positions. Building on these reflections, the book supports academics in the initial stages of their career who might be seeking guidance to navigate, or perform, their roles in academia, as well as more seasoned academics looking to revitalize aspects of their work. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148001 Title: Stanislavsky’s use of improvisation Authors: Aquilina, Stefan Abstract: Stanislavsky’s Use of Improvisation is the first work that brings together material across Stanislavsky’s entire career to survey his use of improvisation. Improvisation was a key concern for Stanislavsky, one that impinged on his acting, directing, and pedagogical work. Consequently, it features in many books on the System, but this study is unique because it focuses explicitly on improvisation and its place in Stanislavsky’s development as a theatre-maker. This allows the reader to see how Stanislavsky treated improvisation as a highly mutable practice that was not bound to one particular interpretation, definition, or application. Improvisation will always relate to the present moment in an actor’s work, to the here and now; it values aliveness and an engagement with the role. Beyond that, however, Stanislavsky’s use of improvisation was a dynamic and expanded one that answered a range of work challenges. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147798 Title: Maurice Maeterlinck’s ‘the tragic in daily life’ : a video essay Authors: Aquilina, Stefan Abstract: This video essay offers a methodology aimed at making historical figures from theatre and performance relevant to contemporary studies, practice, and training. It uses Maurice Maeterlinck’s essay ‘The Tragedy in Daily Life’ as a case-study to demonstrate how this contemporaneity is achieved by i) using fragments from the essay as a stimulus for generating performance material and (ii) transforming a key concept, idea, or theme into an instance of actor training. An accompanying Research Statement contextualises the project. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z