Saturday, December 1, 2007

COURSES OFFERED

The Malta Drama Centre, which operates in terms of a scheme for continuing education, offers after-school and evening courses only. Courses offered cover a relatively broad spectrum representing the performing arts. Primary and intermediate courses are on offer, leading to Royal Academy of Dance graded examinations, while preparatory, junior and intermediate classes deal with acting, improvisation, voice technique, singing, physical theatre and musical theatre.
A special department prepares adult students for Devised Community Theatre, where the accent is on field research in social issues which are then presented in dramatic form. This is a one-year course introducing students to various forms of socially-oriented theatre, with special emphasis on the Forum technique.
For the past two years the Centre has also been offering a Modelling Course, concentrating on personal care, general deportment, cat walk techniques, character expression, slow modelling and portfolio assembly.
Further enquiries about courses should be made by phoning during office hours: 00356-21-220-665.

PRESENT STATE

At present the Malta Drama Centre is directed by Mario Azzopardi, a theatre animator, writer and cultural journalist. He was one of the very first Maltese tutors at the Centre.
His staff complement includes 22 tutors, including several foreigners who run improvisation courses, costume design and character dance.
The intake of students for 2007/2008 exceeds 400 and all classes are heavily subsidized by the Ministry of Education.
Courses include training in fundamental acting techniques, improvisation, musical theatre, jazz dance, character dance, costume design and construction as well as training in studio production. The Drama Centre also prepares candidates for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art Certification, conducted in malta by external examiners.
The Malta Drama Centre is also involved in several overseas productions, including projects sponsored by the European Union.

MALTADRAMACENTRE


Brief History

The Malta Drama Centre is a state institution within the Education Division of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment in malta. It was established in 1977 on the basis of a Technical-Cooperation Agreement with Britain. Its first director was Adrian Rendle, a theatre director with long experience at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the Webber Douglas Theatre School in London.
Originally, the Drama Centre was attached to the Manoel Theatre in Valletta but in 1994 it was tranferred to the Education Department and now has its own premises in Blata l-Bajda.