Bormla’s streets will be transformed into an open-air theatre next week as the Cospicua Short Play Festival returns for its ninth edition.

Taking place on 18th and 19th September, the two-day festival will see nine theatrical productions performed around the historic Santa Margarita area, bringing theatre out of traditional venues and directly into the streets of the city.

Seven of the productions will be competing in this year’s competition, having been selected from around 45 scripts submitted through an open call.

Once the seven scripts were chosen, their writers were tasked with selecting the directors, actors and theatre groups who would ultimately bring their stories to life.

The programme will also feature two invited productions by Esplora and Opening Doors.

The Cospicua Short Play Festival was first held in 2018, when the Bormla Local Council successfully applied for funding through a cultural activities scheme.

Since then, the festival has grown considerably, establishing itself as a recurring fixture on Malta’s cultural calendar while providing a platform for emerging writers, directors and performers to experiment with their craft and develop their skills.