EVENINGS ON CAMPUS 2008Evenings on Campus, the Summer festival for cultural events, is in its 16th edition. It comprises five films, two literary evenings, one Italian play, a contemporary dance and one musical event. The activities, which will commence on the 4th August and finish on the 30th August, will be held in Valletta, at the Old University Courtyard and all start at 2030hrs. The venue we chose this year is not just central but it will provide a historical backdrop to all our events.

The activities will be held outside, but, unlike an open piazza where anyone can stop and look on, the unique courtyard will help create the intimacy necessary to build a link between the artist and the viewer.

When the festival originated, cultural events were not very numerous and the campus at tal-Qroqq used to be deserted in summer. Since then Evenings on Campus has become a regular and appreciated addition to Malta’s summer cultural life. One of the main objectives has always been to animate campus by involving the students, lecturers and staff and to offer a venue to whoever felt they had a talent, whether it was artistic or organisational. Students’ ideas were always accepted with enthusiasm and made possible through funding by the University of Malta with the Koperattiva’s resources, expertise and contacts.

FILMSEvery Monday evening throughout August (04, 11, 18, 25) (€5)

This year’s films are of the ‘Ensemble’ genre and include some true cult movies. Most ensemble films centre on a single character or location; it is their connection to either the location or the person that makes their story valid in the ensemble. The strong characteristic of these films is the ability of the directors to create a dynamic between one story and other until the stories draw a tighter circle, become closer and finally become one.

goes to Valletta!

UNIVERSITY OF MALTAKOPERATTIVA KULTURALI

UNIVERSITARJA

04 11 18 25

EVENING WITH DOUGLAS DUNNThursday, 07 August (€8)

Professor Douglas Dunn was born in 1942 in Scotland. He is currently Professor of English and Director of St Andrew’s Scottish Studies Institute at St Andrew’s University. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1981 and is a regular contributor of articles and reviews to newspapers and journals including the Glasgow Herald, the New Yorker and the Times Literary Supplement.

Dunn’s first collection of poetry, Terry Street, was published by in 1969, and Love or Nothing appeared in 1974. His other poetry books include St. Kilda’s Parliament (1981), and the acclaimed Elegies (1985). Secret Villages, a collection of short stories, was published in the same year. More recent publications include a collection of short stories, Boyfriends and Girlfriends (1995), and three poetry collections, The Donkey’s Ears (2000), The Year’s Afternoon (2000) and New Selected Poems 1964-2000 (2002). Dunn has received innumerable prizes and awards for his works. In addition to his collections of poetry and short stories, Dunn has edited various anthologies and critical works. He has also written several television and radio plays, and has published a translation of Racine’s Andromache (1990).Douglas Dunn lives in Scotland. He was awarded an OBE in 2003.

This evening, with readings by Prof. Dunn, of his poetry and prose is being organised by the students of the English Dpartment under the guidance of Dr Ivan Callus. The students, who have reached their final year, have organised similar poetry evenings before.

30TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING OF MIDNIGHT EXPRESS Friday, 08 August (€5)

This screening is being held to celebrate the 30th anniversary since the film was released. A discussion will precede the screening during which a panel will discuss different themes such as the actors, filming locations and music that resonate throughout the film. The film has a very special place for many residents in Valletta since it was filmed in the capital city and many residents worked as extras. It is timeless in its subject as it is an unforgettable look at how innocence is lost in prison and what one must do in order to survive and get home.

Nominated for six 1978 Academy Awards, and winner for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score, Midnight Express is led by the powerful direction of Alan Parker with a powerful performance by its lead actor Brad Davis and supporting actors John Hurt and Randy Quaid.

LA MANDRAGOLAa free adaptation from the play by Niccolò Machiavellipresented by the Compagnia Balagàn in collaboration with the Istituto Italiano di CulturaWednesday, 13 & Thursday, 14 August (€8) This adaptation of the play La Mandragola by Niccolò Machiavelli, brings together, using intrigue and comedy, the main themes of the play by the well-known 16th century playwright. The aim is to follow the Italian tradition of taking an erudite text and presenting it to a general audience in a fresh and amusing way using masks and the physicality of the actors.

The characters are those typical of the Commedia dell’Arte: young lovers, older people who oppose their love, boastful masters, clever servants who manage to turn every situation to their advantage.

The show has an open scenario and the play will be characterised by the use of musical interludes and noises ‘off’ in the form of musical and percussion instruments. The basic needs of Man will be emphasised: hunger, love, power, sex (in the form of double entendres) whilst the involvement of the audience will also be encouraged. The dialogue and action will be quick in every sense, light and rhythmic.

JEKK il-holm taghna sehhILLUM Friday, 22 August (€5)

An extraordinary evening is being held on the 22nd August. It will consist of well-known guests who were young thinkers and artists in the 60’s. These young people, inspired by the Beatles and the 60’s revolution, were imagining the future and, with their initiatives in literature, music and theatrical abilities, left their mark on Maltese history. All the guests will be Maltese and will include Oliver Friggieri, Lillian Sciberras, Frans Sammut, Francis Zammit Dimech, who started the Four T’s, Charles Xuereb and others. Some will participate in person while others will be present through the use of multimedia. We would like to recapture the thoughts of these literary and musical figures and shall be reading some of their work which represents the 60’s in Malta at its most important moment.

VANESSA & THE O’sBEANGROWERSSaturday, 23 August (€8)

Its been nearly 10 years since Beangrowers first exploded onto the local scene with their debut single “Astroboy”. During this time the band has literally been going places. With 4 albums under their belt, the band has worked with several international record labels, releasing their music in the UK, USA, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Australia and even Korea, all the while touring extensively and building an international fanbase. During this time they have shared the stage with such greats as Tindersticks, Elbow, Deus and Stereophonics. Award-winning director Wim Wenders (Buena Vista Social Club, Wings of Desire) is a fan and even used the song “The Priest” (from their 2006 album, “Dance Dance Baby”) for his movie “Land of Plenty”, alongside David Bowie and Leonard Cohen. The band’s music has also been used for other films such as “Liebe Deine Nachste” and “Passing Summer”. Following their first ever USA appearance in 2004 the band did not look back and started making inroads in the USA market. Championed by the likes of KCRW radio’s influential tastemaker Nic Harcourt, the band wowed audiences at their SXSW appearances and legendary New York Club Sine’. The band’s music has also been used for popular TV series “Ghostwhisperer” and “Wildfire” as well as a number of commercials. Beangrowers have come to be known for their unique style, an infectious mixture of guitar-based pop and quirky keyboard sounds. While that can still be heard on their new album “Not In A Million Lovers”, there’s also a noticeably more mature element, both lyrically and musically. The band looks forward to their forthcoming North America release via acclaimed record label Minty Fresh (The Cardigans, Waterboys, Veruca Salt)

www.myspace.com/beangrowers

Vanessa Contenay-Quinones is French, Paris born and bred. She grew up loving the sounds of the 60’s found rummaging through her dad’s record collection … Gainsbourg, Birkin, Hardy, and of course Dutronc. She went to London during the 90’s, released an album as Espiritu on Heavenly Records, remixed the B52’s and collaborated with A Guy Called Gerald.

In 2004 she met up with Lou Reed in a NY studio to record an electro/pop version of the Velvet Underground’s classic “Sunday Morning”. It was the first time that Reed recorded in French! In

2005 she started a band called The O’s with ex Smashing Pumpkin James Iha. Vanessa & the O’s debut album “La Ballade d’O” was Rough Trade’s album of the week and was desribed as “a fantastic album of european cool with breathy vocals over music that sounds like The Concretes, Stereolab or a more modern take on the Velvet Underground…”, and by leading French music journal Les Inrockuptibles as an “..amazing album of ultra pop, between Bardot and the Velvets”. Vanessa was also guest vocalist on Scott Walkers album “The Drift”, his first release in 11 years.

In 2007 Vanessa & The O’s contributed a track to the Ennio Morricone tribute album ‘We All Love Ennio Morricone’ alongside Bruce Springsteen, Metallica and the Maestro himself.

DANCE MODERN/CLASSIC (€8)Friday, 29th and Saturday, 30th August

Two highly qualified Maltese artists, who lecture abroad, Ms Christina Camilleri and Ms Maria Cassar, will be leading a project together with five young, foreign dancers. The choreography for the contemporary and classical dance to be performed is an original project, created solely for Evenings on Campus.

The medium of PERCEPTION’ is an innovative dance project that portrays contemporary ideas in the dance world. It is an exploration of movement inspired by the human senses. Choreographers Christina Camilleri and Maria Cassar merge together two different dance genres to create a fusion of classical and contemporary techniques. This dance project represents the collaboration of Maltese as well as dancers from UK and Ireland. Working with 20th Century music, contemporary composers of our time gives this collaboration an exquisite touch. The audience is asked to come, support and participate as an artist would in front of an blank canvas.

Vodafone; Agenda; Exotique; Bookends; NewsKiosk & at the door

With the support of