The Malta Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence is backing a touring forum theatre production that places audience members directly inside scenarios of abuse, asking them to reshape outcomes in real time. The show, Għaliex? (Why?), runs across the islands until July 31, 2025, turning passive viewing into active intervention practice.
Why This Matters:
• Interactive format: You don't watch the abuse scenario unfold—you step in and suggest alternatives when the moderator asks.
• Multiple locations: The production tours different communities, meeting residents where they live rather than requiring travel to a central venue.
• Legal context: Malta's Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence Act (Chapter 581) was amended in 2024, and this performance helps translate legal protections into everyday recognition skills.
• Free participation: Funded through the Together We Empower program, a joint initiative between the Commission and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Reforms and Equality.
What Happens Inside the Performance
Unlike traditional theatre, Għaliex? stops midway through scenes depicting domestic and gender-based violence. Director Lee N-Abela and her cast invite audience members to propose different reactions, test alternative dialogue, or physically replace actors on stage to demonstrate how bystanders, family members, or victims themselves might interrupt the cycle.
The script is based on playwright Vincent Vella's work Għaliex Jien? (Why Me?), which examines emotional manipulation and power imbalances in intimate relationships. Vella's previous plays have consistently tackled tyrannical control and the persecution of women, making him a fixture in Malta's socially engaged theatre scene.
Actress Angele Galea, who portrays the character Wallis, has built a career around women's empowerment narratives. She previously researched women in drop-in centers and created performances examining prostitution and intergenerational trauma from domestic violence. Veteran actor George Micallef, known primarily for operetta and comedy, took the role of Bertie Rodgers, lending dramatic weight to the production's heavier themes.
The Forum Theatre Method
The technique, called forum theatre, originated in Brazil as a rehearsal tool for social change. Audiences "practice" interventions in a controlled environment, building confidence to recognize abuse patterns and speak up in real situations.
Participants at Malta performances have reportedly asked actors to pause scenes to debate whether a character's apology was genuine, whether financial control constitutes violence, and how to respond when a neighbor hears arguments through shared walls. The format deliberately blurs the line between spectator and participant, transforming community members into active agents rather than silent witnesses.
Research on participatory theatre across Europe shows measurable shifts in attitude and intervention willingness. Studies document increased empathy, better recognition of consent violations, and higher likelihood of directing someone toward professional support services. In Malta, where the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) recently opened the country's first dedicated center for victims of domestic and gender-based violence, the performance serves as a community-level bridge to formal resources.
How Malta's Legal Framework Supports This Work
The Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence Act establishes a zero-tolerance policy and mandates coordination across police, health, and social services. The Gender Mainstreaming Unit within the Directorate for Human Rights works to embed equality principles in public policy.
The Together We Empower program, which funds Għaliex?, aims to strengthen voluntary organizations working on awareness campaigns and implement Malta's Third National Strategy on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence. The initiative prioritizes public engagement over top-down messaging, using participatory methods like forum theatre to meet communities where they are.
What the Performance Offers You
If you're living in Malta, this production offers practical skills that translate beyond the theatre space. You'll learn to identify coercive control (a criminal offense under Chapter 581), understand the difference between conflict and abuse, and know how to refer someone to services without putting yourself at risk.
The show also addresses cultural barriers that prevent reporting. Malta's tight-knit communities can make disclosure difficult, especially when families know each other or share religious and social circles. Forum theatre allows you to role-play these exact tensions, testing language and approaches in a space where mistakes carry no consequences.
The performance also clarifies the legal protections available regardless of residency status, including emergency protection orders and access to shelters. You'll gain context around how isolation and pressure can manifest in ways specific to living on a small island.
Initial Response from Participants
Early feedback suggests the format prompts reflection that traditional awareness campaigns often miss. The interactive sessions have revealed gaps in public knowledge about consent, particularly in long-term relationships, and about economic abuse—such as withholding money, sabotaging employment, or controlling access to bank accounts. These forms of violence are legally recognized under Chapter 581 but remain less visible than physical assault.
Where and How to Attend
Għaliex? tours multiple localities through the end of July 2025, with performances scheduled in community halls, cultural centers, and public spaces. The Commission's website lists upcoming dates and locations, and attendance is free, though some venues require advance registration due to space limits.
The production lasts approximately 90 minutes, including the interactive portions. Facilitators provide clear ground rules at the start, including respect for participants who share personal experiences and the option to observe without participating if someone feels uncomfortable stepping into a scene.
The Foundation for Social Welfare Services maintains a 24-hour helpline (179) for anyone affected by domestic or gender-based violence, and staff members are often present at performances to provide information about emergency shelters, legal aid, and counseling services. The Victim Support Unit within the Malta Police Force also coordinates with the Commission to ensure consistent messaging around reporting procedures.
