The Beast Within: first performance of Teatru Manoel Youth Theatre’s Lord of the Flies-inspired season

The first performance of Teatru Manoel Youth Theatre’s Lord of the Flies inspired 2018-19 season takes the company of young adult performers on a journey of discovery as they explore “the beast within”.

A line from the William Golding classic text poses the questions, why do we, as humans, behave the way we do and what is the driving force behind our actions? Kenneth Zammit Tabona, Teatru Manoel Artistic Director, Kate Fenech Field, the venue’s Education Executive and Youth Theatre director Ian Moore agreed that an over-arching theme for the TMYT 2018-19 season would create a really strong learning curve and offer members the opportunity to engage with classic and modern text.

Thus, over the course of the ninety minute production Theatre Manoel’s Youth Theatre (TMYT) take a look at examples of the human condition through classic and contemporary theatre; from Euripides Medea to 2007’s DNA by Dennis Kelly, all of which demonstrate some of our almost inhuman character traits. Director Ian Moore admits, “It is a privilege, an honour and a delight working with Teatru Manoel and their Youth Theatre in particular. There is an enormous amount of untapped talent in Malta and TMYT is testament to that fact.”

And Ian should know.

From child actor in the 1970’s, pantomime with British legends such as Basil Brush, Don Estelle & Windsor Davies and Christopher Biggins to working in a number of prodigious venues with a huge variety of the world’s most recognisable organisations, Ian’s professional journey has been wide and varied and includes roles in 80’s and 90’s UK TV shows; When the Boat Comes In, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads and Auf Weidersehen Pet.

TV and film, intertwined with more theatre roles than he could possible include here - as actor, director and playwright - he estimates he is not too far short of almost five hundred productions, and more than fifty of these with youth theatre organisations in Newcastle, Liverpool, Rome and Barcelona.

“My life’s ambition has always been to assist young adults reach their full potential within the Arts and performance in particular,” adds Ian. “As a kid I never really got the support needed in the industry and, as my experiences aren’t something I can take with me, I look to pass on that knowledge whenever possible.”

Ian continues, “The fact that TMYT alumni includes many actors who work and study abroad as well as being embedded in the local industry is testament to the six year old performance group credentials. Anything I can do to develop what is already in place is something I am looking to develop yet further. Ask any young person in any of the productions across Malta, throughout the Capital of Culture and beyond and TMYT is never far away. The 2018-19 season provides audiences with the next generation of young talent.”

The Beast Within runs Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 December at 5pm in Teatru Manoel’s Studio Theatre space. Tickets are available online at www.teatrumanoel.com.mt or contact the Booking Office directly on 21246389