Guiding the Stage: A Direction Masterclass by Sean Briffa

As part of the build-up to Mikiel Anton Vassalli College’s much-anticipated annual production, this year’s multidisciplinary triptych “L-Aħħar Bastiment: Stories from the Grand Harbour” is preceded by a series of masterclasses that invite students to explore the behind-the-scenes artistry of professional theatre. The production’s director, Sean Briffa, delivers a masterclass on the craft of directing for the stage.

Students were given the opportunity to learn from the production’s director, Sean Briffa. Delivered at the MAVC, Malta School of Drama and Dance, this masterlcass brought together 20 participants of varying ages to introduce the concept of visual language in theatre, encouraging an understanding of how meaning, mood and narrative can be shaped beyond words. Through an open discussion shaped by questions and dialogue, participants were invited to explore the role of the director – its responsibilities towards fellow artists and the wider production, the misconceptions that often surround it (particularly within the local context), and the creative as well as practical limitations within the role.

The practical component unfolded through collaboration and exploration, where as a group, participants experimented with directing an actor, shaping atmosphere and character through intention and choice. The participants were given the opportunity to work in pairs (one as the director, the other as the performer) in order to test different approaches, to discover how subtle shifts in direction can transform a scene, alter its emotional landscape, and bring new dimensions to the performance.

L-Aħħar Bastiment – Stories from the Grand Harbour will be staged on Saturday 9 May 2026 at St. Agatha Auditorium, Rabat.

Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance via: https://www.ticketline.com.mt/bookings/Shows.aspx?ProductionId=1293