​WHY DO WE NEED THIS?

 

Malta currently has the highest HIV rates in Europe. Prep is still not freely available on health services. Education around sexual health is minimal. People are still scared and refuse to talk about sexual health.  

 

HOW WILL WE DO THIS?

 

Between the 11th and 27th of October, Saydon Studio will be producing a new musical called “Il-Każin tal-Imqarbin”. It is the story of closeted queer men in the 80s. For the first time on stage we will see the stories of the Maltese men who were most impacted by this virus back then. The voices of these men, most of which we lost, were not heard. 

 

HOW DOES THE CHOIR COME IN?

 

At the end of the musical - not as a separate performance but as part of the play itself, an ensemble 30 men will appear on stage, signifying the unheard voices of our community. In what we intend to be a most emotional moment, for those few minutes, the voices of those we lost will be remembered. You will be part of the cast of Każin tal-Imqarbin and also part of a historic moment.

 

WHAT ARE THE LOGISTICS?

 

This is a community project. Even though the same ethos of KOR KWIR will be applied, we will have 5 rehearsals, 1 dress rehearsal and 9 performances (dates below). It is one simple song that we will be learning, in 3 voice parts. You will have the track to practice and we will rehearse in a studio. The song is in Maltese, but that is no hinderance to people who don’t speak Maltese. We will organise phonetic translations for you and we will have ample time to rehearse. Neither singing nor acting experience is required. Your commitment to the cause is all we ask for. We will rehearse in Sta. Venera and the performances are at the Valletta Campus Theatre in Valletta. 

 

WHAT IF I CAN’T MAKE ALL THE SESSIONS?

 

Ideally, you are available to all the sessions noted down here. This is to ensure a most professional, polished final product. However if you cannot make all sessions, we still want you to be part of this. As this is a community project (not a job) we understand that you have other priorities. Even if you can’t make all the shows, that is fine. We will always have a staging rehearsal before you go on stage and we will adapt to the numbers. 

 

WHY KEEP THIS A SECRET? 

 

Like any other theatre production, we do not want to spoil the impact of the piece to our audiences. This moment will only work if it comes as a complete surprise.

 

There is only one exception, and that is if you are going to invite someone. If you know of someone who would like to be part of this and you know that they will take this seriously, please do help us by pitching this project to them, send them this page or ask them to get in touch on info@saydonstudio.com

 

Please do not post about this project publicly on social media.