PENNY IN A HAT – THE MALTESE GROUP

Penny in a Hat theatre troupe is a team of Maltese performing artists with different performing backgrounds. Drama, ballet, singing, musicians, modern dance - the troupe has just about everything. Incorporating these fine elements of theatre we aim to give challenging performances and attract a diversity of audiences. Established as of November 2005, these young people have come together to enhance their collection of talents and evolve them into a spectacular theatrical showcase.

The idea behind the name comes from the fact that we see artists on the streets collecting coins in a hat. This is tangible proof that art is everywhere and not only on a rock n’ roll stage. The same way that these amateurs in European streets can perform anywhere, anytime, through their passion for their art, Penny in a hat are exploring this similar impact on the local stage. Our admiration towards these skilful youths, has led us into joining our artistic forces, talent and confidence and producing them onto our theatres.

META – THE ITALIAN GROUP

The pioneering group of the project ArtQuake consists of a bunch of youths in their twenties, who got to meet each other through various situations, be it at school, during music lessons, the gym or common friendships, but overall this was possible thanks to META – the solely true and sincere social glue that managed to take the love for music, from rock to reggae, up to new heights.

In fact, each and every one of us, despite striving in our studies and the realm of work, keeps on cultivating his/her passion for music. This is done through attending the school of music, or being members of a band writing original material or proposing cover versions in local music clubs.

The first experience as a group took place in the year 2005 with the project ‘La Nona Nota’, meaning the 9th note. ArtQuake then is the answer that this group of music lovers managed to give as a result of the artistic needs which they feel are at stake.

This new path was lived as a natural and ambitious European evolution of the previous project, presenting its difficulties, new people and means of expression which helped building a communicative bridge. Music helps u recount life happenings; likewise, the project ArtQuake is our way of narrating this life stories.

The social co-operative META; our sole logistic and bureaucratic support, operates in Rome since 1980 with the objective of offering services to fight and prevent social exclusion, especially to those at risk – minors, the elderly, the disabled. Amongst services directed to minors and youths, META is responsible for a centre of aggregation which is financed by the IX Municipal of Rome. This centre offers members [300 approx.] the possibility of participating in various activities such as music, multimedia and artistic workshops, sports activities, outings, international opportunities, psychological support while also giving information on local things. In this centre we have met, discussed, rehearsed and brought about the ArtQuake project.

GROŽIO MOKYKLA – THE LITHUANIAN GROUP

„Young leaders club“ was established in 2004. At that time few young people decided to do something great together. So now all of us are in one club. So what do we do?. Our basic aims are to organize initiative youth to do meaning activity; arrange and realize different youth free time activities; encourage youth to be public spirited and sociable. We are writing projects so that we could realize our crazy ideas. The idea behind the foundation of Grozio mokykla (Young Leaders Club) is to develop cultural links between youths from different backgrounds, to make the Lithuanian people more familiar with the idea of being a part of Europe, to take part in the preservation and restoration of environment and to guide the youth power into those areas. We are interested in various activities: youth problems, free time, environment, amateur theatre, education and everything that goes around youth.