Who are we?
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Jean-Marc Cafà - Director
Jean-Marc Cafà trained at the Guildford School of Acting, UK. He has consulted, collaborated with and directed for a number of local and international organisations. Jean-Marc has taught drama, voice, jazz and musical theatre for various schools including SOPA, GSA and Stagecoach Theatre Arts UK and Malta. In 2011, he moved to Malta to manage the implementation of ZiguZajg, Malta’s first international arts festival for children and youth. Between 2011 and 2013, Jean served as the Artistic Director for SOPA (School of Performing Arts by Drama Troupe) and oversaw the youth programmes run by St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity (Spazju Kreattiv). He also served as Vice President of the performers' association APAP. Jean-Marc founded Studio 18 in 2013, and has served as Creative Director since. He also works as a dramaturge, and works as a consultant of creative learning to San Anton School, a leading independent school in Malta.
Directing credits include The Brat and That, #babydaddy, Once Upon a City workshops, Limbo, Dear Pete, Inez Kienet Perf(etta) and Gotta Sing Gotta Dance (for Studio 18), Il-Hajja Xej Kool Ta' Teenager Jismu Julian (for Du Theatre, and Teatru Aurora), Loveplay (for Pagoni Theatre), MPO's Dare to Dream, a number of musicals and showcases for SOPA and Stagecoach, and Thoroughly Modern Millie for the SOPA Teen Company (Malta) as well as co-director for Teatru Astra's Evita and assistant director on Her Naked Skin (GSA), Così Fan Tutte (Jackdaws, UK), Orpheus the Mythical (Yvonne Arnuad Theatre and Richard Stilgoe), and Shakespeare scene work for the Sam Wanamaker Festival at Shakespeare's Globe.
Jean-Marc has been invited to participate in numerous workshops at organisations such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, Het Filiaal, Edinburgh Fringe, Ziguzajg and Al-Harah Theatre.
Antonella Mifsud - Assistant Director
Antonella has recently completed her MA in Theatre and Performance at University of Malta. She also holds a Grade 8 certificate in Theory of Music (LSM), Musical Theatre (PAA) and Individual Acting (Trinity). She has attended a number of workshops and masterclasses which focus on creative education, including 'Facing the Gap' - a Theatre in Education conference and workshop in Hungary.
Antonella started out as a drama, music and art workshop leader at Spazju Kreattiv between 2012 and 2015, and as a drama teacher at Stagecoach where she has been working for six years. She has also been performing with TOITOI for four years, animating 022 concerts for the very young, co-creating and performing in PikuŻi (Maltese plays for children), storytelling in primary schools and most recently directed an opera for children - Mo's Art, and co-directed Baxx Baxx for Grokk Teatru. Antonella also works as a freelance theatre maker, having created, produced and performed in a number of performances both locally and abroad.
Paul Edwards - Dramaturge / Artistic Consultant
Paul has worked extensively in the UK and overseas as a director, actor, and educator, specialising primarily in training emerging actors. An Associate Artist of the National Youth Theatre, Paul has also directed and facilitated work at Southwark Playhouse, Almeida Theatre, Old Vic Theatre and Hoxton Hall. Alongside his educational work and theatre portfolio in the UK Paul is a founder member of Hanyong Theatre with whom he toured Korea, Japan and Australia.
Directing credits include: Machinal, Attempts on Her Life, Pornography, The Wonderful World of Dissocia (Buckinghamshire New University/Courtyard Theatre) 179 Hackney Road (BRIT School/Bussey Building), Digital Ghosts/Children of the Revolution, Feather's in the Snow (as Associate Director), Every Human Creature, The Arsonists, Peer Gynt (Southwark Playhouse), White City/Black Country, Talking to Shorty, Before the Law (National Youth Theatre of GB), Caucasian Chalk Circle, Our Day Out, 1984, Animal Farm (Stafford Gatehouse Theatre)
James Azzopardi Meli - Production Manager
James Azzopardi Meli has been involved in the performing arts since 2004. De la Salle College nourished his love for the stage; sitting for individual acting exams under the tuition of Lucienne Camilleri and performing in a number of musicals produced by DLS productions. He then trained in Musical Theatre at SOPA until 2013, performing in various showcases and adaptations of musicals.
Joining Studio 18 upon its conception, James has since then assisted in the direction of The Brat and that in Malta in 2013 and in the UK in 2014, took part in MYO Swings, Notte Bianca and #babydaddy in which he played the protagonist Matt. He has also starred in music videos for Dana McKeon, Gianluca Bezzina, and Red Electrick, as well as featuring in an advert for Simonds Farsons Cisk.
In 2016, James co-led a devised Shakespeare workshop programme with Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, was an Assistant Leader in Drama sessions at Opening Doors, and the Production Manager for Limbo both at Spazju Kreattiv and for the Sliema Arts Festival. More recently, James was Production Manager for Gotta Sing Gotta Dance, Dear Pete, and Scratch it-Pitch it-Work it at Teatru Salesjan, Muso Merlot at The Italian Job, and SYSTEM at Spazju Kreattiv.
He currently holds a Distinction in Speech and Drama at ATCL Level. James has also attended workshops and masterclasses with local and international artists, specialising in various areas, including physical theatre, audition technique and devised work. He completed his M.A. in Arts, Festival and Cultural Management at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.
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Want to know more?
Check out our website!
Stefanie Weenink - Deputy Stage Manager
Samantha Cassar Ellis - Set Dressing
David Micallef - Props Master
Luke Cucciardi - Sound Design
Moritz Zavan - Light Design
Claudia Chircop - Artwork design
Elisa Von Brockdorff - Photography (artwork)
Emma Micallef - Photography (rehearsals)
Franco Rizzo - Videography
Petra Galea Debono - Marketing Consultancy
Benjamin Abela, Brendon Thearle - Cultural Ambassadors
Ian Azzopardi Meli - Educational Psychologist
STUDIO 18
Studio 18 is a creative youth organisation that was set up in light of Malta's successful bid to host European Capital of Culture in 2018. Originally a season of theatre workshops hosted at The Box in Mosta, the Studio has fast established itself as an innovator and benchmark for training in the arts and creative learning.
Five years on, the Studio manages four successful training programmes and provides a safe creative space to dozens of young people. Alongside training, the Studio boasts extensive repertoire, including five new works, three tours, and over twenty collaborations.
Here at Studio 18, we constantly strive to broaden our horizons. Aside of local practitioners, the Studio has engaged a number of international artists to collaborate with from season to season. As part of this commitment, Studio 18 explores its endeavours in the company of a mentor for wellbeing and an international associate.
Get inside the box, to think outside of it.
The Studio is a creative youth organisation that, by means of the creative and performing arts, is committed to:
-
Ensuring that young people can assess their personal qualities, skills and achievements and use them to set goals;
-
Empowering young people to explore their options and to encourage them to make informed and committed choices;
-
Instilling a life-long sense of play and a thirst for knowledge in each member;
-
Encouraging social responsibility, active citizenship and an awareness of identity, diversity and legacy in each young person;
-
Pushing boundaries with its members, participants, collaborators and audiences;
-
Developing new repertoire on a national scale.
Make the ordinary, extraordinary
Studio 18 activities range from youth projects to individual mentorship, consultancy and services to schools, collaborations with other creative enterprises and ultimately, the Creative Lab. The organisation was founded by Creative Director Jean-Marc Cafà, who works hand in hand with a Creative Team and a Board of Creative Associates.
Who are we?
Jean-Marc Cafà - Director
Jean-Marc Cafà trained at the Guildford School of Acting, UK. He has consulted, collaborated with and directed for a number of local and international organisations. Jean-Marc has taught drama, voice, jazz and musical theatre for various schools including SOPA, GSA and Stagecoach Theatre Arts UK and Malta. In 2011, he moved to Malta to manage the implementation of ZiguZajg, Malta’s first international arts festival for children and youth. Between 2011 and 2013, Jean served as the Artistic Director for SOPA (School of Performing Arts by Drama Troupe) and oversaw the youth programmes run by St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity (Spazju Kreattiv). He also served as Vice President of the performers' association APAP. Jean-Marc founded Studio 18 in 2013, and has served as Creative Director since. He also works as a dramaturge, and works as a consultant of creative learning to San Anton School, a leading independent school in Malta.
Directing credits include The Brat and That, #babydaddy, Once Upon a City workshops, Limbo, Dear Pete, Inez Kienet Perf(etta) and Gotta Sing Gotta Dance (for Studio 18), Il-Hajja Xej Kool Ta' Teenager Jismu Julian (for Du Theatre, and Teatru Aurora), Loveplay (for Pagoni Theatre), MPO's Dare to Dream, a number of musicals and showcases for SOPA and Stagecoach, and Thoroughly Modern Millie for the SOPA Teen Company (Malta) as well as co-director for Teatru Astra's Evita and assistant director on Her Naked Skin (GSA), Così Fan Tutte (Jackdaws, UK), Orpheus the Mythical (Yvonne Arnuad Theatre and Richard Stilgoe), and Shakespeare scene work for the Sam Wanamaker Festival at Shakespeare's Globe.
Jean-Marc has been invited to participate in numerous workshops at organisations such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, Het Filiaal, Edinburgh Fringe, Ziguzajg and Al-Harah Theatre.
Antonella Mifsud - Assistant Director
Antonella has recently completed her MA in Theatre and Performance at University of Malta. She also holds a Grade 8 certificate in Theory of Music (LSM), Musical Theatre (PAA) and Individual Acting (Trinity). She has attended a number of workshops and masterclasses which focus on creative education, including 'Facing the Gap' - a Theatre in Education conference and workshop in Hungary.
Antonella started out as a drama, music and art workshop leader at Spazju Kreattiv between 2012 and 2015, and as a drama teacher at Stagecoach where she has been working for six years. She has also been performing with TOITOI for four years, animating 022 concerts for the very young, co-creating and performing in PikuŻi (Maltese plays for children), storytelling in primary schools and most recently directed an opera for children - Mo's Art, and co-directed Baxx Baxx for Grokk Teatru. Antonella also works as a freelance theatre maker, having created, produced and performed in a number of performances both locally and abroad.
Paul Edwards - Dramaturge / Artistic Consultant
Paul has worked extensively in the UK and overseas as a director, actor, and educator, specialising primarily in training emerging actors. An Associate Artist of the National Youth Theatre, Paul has also directed and facilitated work at Southwark Playhouse, Almeida Theatre, Old Vic Theatre and Hoxton Hall. Alongside his educational work and theatre portfolio in the UK Paul is a founder member of Hanyong Theatre with whom he toured Korea, Japan and Australia.
Directing credits include: Machinal, Attempts on Her Life, Pornography, The Wonderful World of Dissocia (Buckinghamshire New University/Courtyard Theatre) 179 Hackney Road (BRIT School/Bussey Building), Digital Ghosts/Children of the Revolution, Feather's in the Snow (as Associate Director), Every Human Creature, The Arsonists, Peer Gynt (Southwark Playhouse), White City/Black Country, Talking to Shorty, Before the Law (National Youth Theatre of GB), Caucasian Chalk Circle, Our Day Out, 1984, Animal Farm (Stafford Gatehouse Theatre)
James Azzopardi Meli - Production Manager
James Azzopardi Meli has been involved in the performing arts since 2004. De la Salle College nourished his love for the stage; sitting for individual acting exams under the tuition of Lucienne Camilleri and performing in a number of musicals produced by DLS productions. He then trained in Musical Theatre at SOPA until 2013, performing in various showcases and adaptations of musicals.
Joining Studio 18 upon its conception, James has since then assisted in the direction of The Brat and that in Malta in 2013 and in the UK in 2014, took part in MYO Swings, Notte Bianca and #babydaddy in which he played the protagonist Matt. He has also starred in music videos for Dana McKeon, Gianluca Bezzina, and Red Electrick, as well as featuring in an advert for Simonds Farsons Cisk.
In 2016, James co-led a devised Shakespeare workshop programme with Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, was an Assistant Leader in Drama sessions at Opening Doors, and the Production Manager for Limbo both at Spazju Kreattiv and for the Sliema Arts Festival. More recently, James was Production Manager for Gotta Sing Gotta Dance, Dear Pete, and Scratch it-Pitch it-Work it at Teatru Salesjan, Muso Merlot at The Italian Job, and SYSTEM at Spazju Kreattiv.
He currently holds a Distinction in Speech and Drama at ATCL Level. James has also attended workshops and masterclasses with local and international artists, specialising in various areas, including physical theatre, audition technique and devised work. He completed his M.A. in Arts, Festival and Cultural Management at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.
Want to know more?
Check out our website!
Deputy Stage Manager - Stefanie Weenink
Set Dressing - Samantha Cassar Ellis
Props Master - David Micallef
Sound Design - Luke Cucciardi
Light Design - Moritz Zavan
Artwork Design - Claudia Chircop
Projection Design - James Camilleri
Photography (artwork) - Elisa Von Brockdorff
Photography (rehearsals) - Emma Micallef
Videography - Franco Rizzo
Educational Psychologist - Ian Azzopardi Meli
Marketing Consultancy - Petra Galea Debono
Cultural Ambassadors - Benjamin Abela, Brendon Thearle
Documentation - Gianluca Mifsud
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Spazju Kreattiv
Office of the Prime Minister at Auberge de Castille
Teatru Salesjan
Monique Covers
Angele Galea
Simone Spiteri
Robyn Vella
The Creative Lab
STUDIO 18
Studio 18 is a creative youth organisation that was set up in light of Malta's successful bid to host European Capital of Culture in 2018. Originally a season of theatre workshops hosted at The Box in Mosta, the Studio has fast established itself as an innovator and benchmark for training in the arts and creative learning.
Five years on, the Studio manages four successful training programmes and provides a safe creative space to dozens of young people. Alongside training, the Studio boasts extensive repertoire, including five new works, three tours, and over twenty collaborations.
Here at Studio 18, we constantly strive to broaden our horizons. Aside of local practitioners, the Studio has engaged a number of international artists to collaborate with from season to season. As part of this commitment, Studio 18 explores its endeavours in the company of a mentor for wellbeing and an international associate.
Get inside the box, to think outside of it.
The Studio is a creative youth organisation that, by means of the creative and performing arts, is committed to:
-
Ensuring that young people can assess their personal qualities, skills and achievements and use them to set goals;
-
Empowering young people to explore their options and to encourage them to make informed and committed choices;
-
Instilling a life-long sense of play and a thirst for knowledge in each member;
-
Encouraging social responsibility, active citizenship and an awareness of identity, diversity and legacy in each young person;
-
Pushing boundaries with its members, participants, collaborators and audiences;
-
Developing new repertoire on a national scale.
Make the ordinary, extraordinary
Studio 18 activities range from youth projects to individual mentorship, consultancy and services to schools, collaborations with other creative enterprises and ultimately, the Creative Lab. The organisation was founded by Creative Director Jean-Marc Cafà, who works hand in hand with a Creative Team and a Board of Creative Associates.
CAST
Benjamin Abela
Laura Agius
Sean Azzopardi
Matthew Caruana Bond
Bradley Cachia
Mark Ciantar
Ella Coppini
Paolo Micallef
Matteo Mifsud
Denise Perini
Brendon Thearle
Hannah Spiteri