The People Behind the Cospicua Short Play Festival: A Community Vision Turned Into a Cultural Success Story

Behind every successful cultural initiative there are people with a vision, dedication and a passion for creating something meaningful. The Cospicua Short Play Festival is one such story; a journey that began in 2018 with the ambition of bringing theatre closer to the community and creating a platform for Maltese artistic talent.

The idea for the festival came from two Cospicua-born artists, Joseph Galea and Pierre Bugeja, whose lifelong involvement in the local artistic community inspired them to create an event that would celebrate original theatre while giving opportunities to writers, directors and actors.

Working together with the Cospicua Local Council, and with the support of then Mayor Alison Zerafa Civelli, the festival was established as a cultural project designed to create a lasting impact both within Cospicua and across Malta’s artistic scene.

What started as a local initiative has grown into one of Malta’s recognised theatre events. Over the years, the festival has become a meeting point for creativity, collaboration and community participation, attracting audiences to experience original short plays in the unique historic surroundings of Cospicua.

The success of the festival is built on the commitment of many people; from the organisers and artistic team to playwrights, directors, actors, production crews, volunteers and residents who contribute to making each edition possible.

This collective effort has been recognised nationally. In 2025, the Cospicua Short Play Festival received the Arts Award for Best Community Project, celebrating its contribution to culture, community engagement and the development of Maltese theatre.

Beyond awards and recognition, the true achievement of the festival lies in the opportunities it creates: giving new voices a platform, encouraging creativity and bringing people together through the power of storytelling.

As the festival continues to grow, its mission remains the same: to bring communities closer to the arts and to continue creating meaningful theatrical experiences in the heart of Cospicua.