Between 19 and 21 September, MELA organised a series of Forum Theatre sessions at the Apap Bologna Pastoral Centre in Marsaskala. The sessions featured actors Angele and Malcolm Galea, Naomi Said, and theatre director Dr Tyrone Grima.
Forum Theatre—an interactive form of performance developed by Brazilian practitioner Augusto Boal within his Theatre of the Oppressed methodology—aims to empower marginalised communities by inviting audiences to become active participants in the search for change.
Over three days, three groups were presented with the same dramatic scene exploring male toxicity in domestic relationships. Audience members were encouraged to suggest alternative actions and forms of language that might empower the oppressed. These suggestions were then enacted, followed by an open discussion in which participants reflected on their interventions and their social implications.
At a time when Malta continues to grapple with domestic violence and femicide, the Catholic Church in Malta seeks to foster “renewed and shared narratives which—based on listening to the past and the present—speak to the hearts of people.”
Through MELA, the Church aims to position Malta as a hub of Mediterranean identity and dialogue, reaffirming its active role within civil society. MELA promotes inclusive spaces that bring together people of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. Its mission is to cultivate mutual respect and deepen understanding among the many communities that share this historically rich and complex area.
For more information, visit: mela.org.mt
