Theatre censorship in Malta : before, during and after the law

Abstract

This dissertation addresses the phenomenon of theatre censorship in Malta. It starts with an overview of the initiatives taken by The Theatre Censorship Board established in 1937, with regard to plays and playwrights staged in Malta. It will then take as a case study the play Stitching, written by Antony Nielsen which the company Unifaun attempted to produce in 2009. This case, and certain initiatives by the Malta Council for the Arts can be considered as a starting point of the process that led to the change of the law in 2012. The legal process and the public opinion will be analyses from both the point of view of those in favour and against the removal of the censorship law. This dissertation will then analyse the impact of the removal of the law on society and on public opinion. It will also discuss the presence of censorship nowadays in particular with regard to self-censorship. Finally, this dissertation will propose that the fact of going beyond censorship may be seen as a process that provides an opportunity to generate healthy and constructive debate.