Amateur theatre in Malta is not a niche hobby: much of the island’s theatre is made by volunteers, so joining a group can put you on stage, or backstage, at real venues. The best-known company is MADC, founded in 1910 and described as Malta’s oldest theatre company, with its own playhouse in Santa Venera and an annual one-act play festival that gives new faces a chance to act, direct or work behind the scenes. Alongside it are English-language pantomime and drama groups and many Maltese-language companies linked to towns and parishes.
If you have ever thought “I’d love to do a bit of theatre again” (or for the first time), Malta is honestly one of the easiest places in Europe to act on it. Groups are small, they always need people, and nobody minds that you last stood on a stage in a school play. Below we cover how the scene works, the kinds of groups to look for, auditions and backstage roles, the theatre year, and how to send that first slightly nervous message.
How amateur theatre in Malta works
Malta is a small country, and researchers have noted that its theatre rests almost entirely on amateur practice, because there is not a big enough audience base to support a large professional sector. In practice, that means people with day jobs rehearse in the evenings and at weekends, then perform at proper venues: historic theatres, cultural centres, open-air gardens and community halls. There are two broad worlds, English-language and Maltese-language theatre, and many people work in both.
| Type of group | Language | Typical shows | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-established club (e.g. MADC) | Mainly English | Plays, Shakespeare, pantomime, one-act festival | Structured membership, training, many roles |
| Pantomime and musical theatre groups | English | Christmas pantos, musicals | Singers, dancers, families |
| Maltese-language companies | Maltese | Comedies, dramas, new Maltese writing | Maltese speakers and learners |
| Parish and band-club drama groups | Maltese | Local comedies, festive productions | Community feel, local friendships |
| Student and youth theatre | Both | Workshops, student productions | Students and young adults |
MADC: Malta’s oldest theatre company
MADC traces its history to 1910, which makes it Malta’s oldest theatre company. It has used its clubrooms in Santa Venera since 1957, and it is often described as the largest theatre association in Malta. Its seasons have included open-air Shakespeare in summer; in July 2026, for example, it staged Hamlet in the Msida Bastion Historic Garden in Floriana. It also runs a One-Act Play Festival at its playhouse, which is explicitly a platform for new faces to try acting, directing or backstage work. If you want one place to start, this is it: check the club’s website and social pages for membership details and the next call for actors and crew.
Other kinds of groups to look for
Pantomime and musical theatre
English-style Christmas pantomime is a big tradition in Malta, with several productions every December and January. Panto groups need not just actors but singers, dancers, chorus members, stage crew and costume makers, and rehearsals usually start in the autumn. If you can sing or dance, musical theatre groups are another way in, and singers might also enjoy joining a choir in Malta.
Maltese-language theatre
Maltese-language companies stage comedies, dramas and new Maltese writing, and many towns have drama groups attached to parishes or band clubs. If you speak Maltese, or are learning seriously, joining one is a fantastic way to improve and to make local friends.
Student and youth theatre
Students at the University of Malta and MCAST have drama societies and productions of their own. Our guide to social clubs in Malta for young adults covers student societies more widely.
The theatre year in Malta
- Autumn (September to November): new seasons start, auditions for winter shows and pantos, festival programmes announced.
- Winter (December to January): pantomime season and indoor plays; see Valletta Christmas events for the wider festive programme.
- Spring (February to May): plays and festivals at theatres and cultural venues.
- Summer (June to August): open-air productions in gardens and historic spaces, including Shakespeare.
For what is on in the capital this season, check our Valletta cultural agenda.
Auditions: what to expect
Auditions for amateur productions in Malta are usually friendly and informal. A typical call asks you to:
- Register in advance by email or form, often with a photo and a short note on experience (none is fine).
- Prepare a short piece, such as a monologue of a minute or two, or read from the script on the day.
- Sing a short song for musicals and pantos.
- Be clear about availability. Directors care a lot about whether you can make rehearsals, often two or three evenings a week in the final weeks.
If you do not get a part, ask whether they need help backstage. Many actors in Malta got their first role after a season on crew.
Your first rehearsal
The first meeting is usually a read-through: the cast sits around a table with scripts, the director explains the concept and the schedule, and everyone reads the play aloud. Nobody expects a performance yet. Bring a pencil to mark your lines, a bottle of water and your calendar, because the rehearsal schedule gets fixed early. After that, rehearsals move to blocking (where everyone stands and moves), then off-book runs, then technical and dress rehearsals in the final week. Groups in Malta often rehearse in clubrooms, church halls or schools, so ask about transport if you rely on the bus late in the evening.
Not an actor? Backstage roles
Every production needs far more people off stage than on it. Groups are often short of:
- Stage managers and assistants, who run rehearsals and the show itself.
- Set builders and painters, good for anyone handy with tools.
- Lighting and sound operators; groups will often train you.
- Costume and make-up, especially for pantos and period plays.
- Front of house, marketing and photography for people who want to help without performing.
If you already enjoy making things, our guide to art classes in Malta for adults is a good companion; set painting and prop making use exactly those skills.
How to get involved: step by step
- Go and watch a couple of amateur shows, and read the programme to see which groups made them.
- Follow those groups online; audition calls and volunteer requests are posted there.
- Email or message to say you are interested in acting or crew and give your availability.
- Start with a short commitment, such as a one-act festival or a single production.
- Turn up reliably. In a volunteer world, being dependable matters more than talent.
Why theatre is great for meeting people
A production puts you in a room with the same twenty or thirty people several times a week for two months, working towards something nerve-racking together. Few things build friendships faster. Cast parties, rehearsal drinks and the shared panic of opening night are where many people find their closest friends in Malta. If performing appeals in smaller doses, try an open mic night in Malta first, and for a wider list of groups, see our guide to clubs to join in Malta.
Honest note: rehearsal schedules get intense in the last few weeks before a show, and productions rely on everyone turning up. Be realistic about your time before you say yes to a big role; a smaller part or a crew job is a perfectly good first season.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free web app for meeting people in person, starting in Malta: a host posts a plan at a public place, sets the time and seats, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins from the people who ask. Open MeetNow and see the plans posted in Malta.
Featured photo: the painted ceiling of the Manoel Theatre, Valletta. Photo: R Muscat, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Sources: Oh My Malta; Critical Stages journal, “Theatre in Malta: Amateur Practice and Professional Aspirations”.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How can I join an amateur theatre group in Malta?
Follow groups such as MADC on their websites and social pages, watch for audition calls and volunteer requests, and get in touch to say whether you want to act or help backstage. Many groups welcome beginners.
Do I need acting experience to audition?
No. Amateur groups in Malta regularly cast newcomers, and events such as MADC’s One-Act Play Festival are designed to give new faces a chance.
Is amateur theatre in Malta in English or Maltese?
Both. Some groups work mainly in English, including much of the pantomime scene, while many companies and parish drama groups perform in Maltese.
When are auditions for pantomimes in Malta?
Usually in late summer or early autumn, so rehearsals can start before the December and January panto season. Check each group’s announcements.
Can I help with theatre without acting?
Yes. Groups need stage managers, set builders, lighting and sound operators, costume and make-up helpers, and front-of-house volunteers, and many will train you.
