ABSTRACT
A former British colony, theatre in the republic of Malta negotiates between imported texts in English and stages productions written or translated into Maltese. Policies to encourage playwriting in Maltese have been established, and integrated into state cultural policy, a relatively new phenomenon, but British institutional structures are still a reference point. Though the theatre is mainly amateur, efforts have been made to develop and professionalise the sector, particularly through education, and a few persons have begun to live off their art. Political interference in theatre affairs, and the ensuing consequences, is also highlighted.
