Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1085429
15 THEATRE maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 FEBRUARY 2019 TEATRU Manoel will be join- ing forces with local theatre bad boys Unifaun Theatre Pro- ductions to offer a unique and exhilarating staging of William Shakespeare's celebrated trag- edy, Macbeth. Set on a eerie, mysteri- ous landscape surrounded by the ghosts of a man's life, this fresh approach to Shake- speare's classic play examines the psychological effects of trauma and the lengths our minds will go to conceal the wounds of the past. The play will be staged at Teatru Ma- noel on 15, 16, 17, 18 March 2019, marking the first return of a Shakespeare play to the Manoel main stage in over ten years. Staged by maverick UK- based theatre director Clive Judd – "a top notch actors di- rector…almost a Mike Leigh in waiting…" Matt Trueman, Whatsonstage – the pro- duction will feature a great number of established lo- cal talent in the cast, start- ing with Mikhail Basmadjian in the title role, Chris Dingli as Macduff and Jes Camilleri as Duncan. The role of Lady Macduff will be played by up- coming actress Erica Muscat, and she will be joined by other young and talented actors in- cluding Jonathan Dunn, Julia Camilleri, Antonella Mifsud, Antonella Axisa, Naomi Knight, Brendon Thearle and Alex Weeninck. Unifaun Producer, Adrian Buckle commented, "I am truly excited about this pro- duction. First of all we are working on one of the great- est plays of all time and also we have a fabulous cast di- rected by a fabulous director. These are all the ingredients you need for a special and en- thralling production." Teatru Manoel Artistic Director, Kenneth Zam- mit Tabona commented that "The staging of a major Shakespeare play at the Ma- noel Theatre is part of the theatre's plan to present top notch literary plays notably Shakespearean ones which had been neglected over the past few decades with special reference to the great trag- edies like Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet or King Lear". The production is being designed by Italian design- er Romualdo Moretti, with sound design from award- winning UK artist Giles Thomas and lighting from acclaimed designer Chris Gatt. "With rehearsals already underway," piped Buckle, "we are witnessing a produc- tion that will easily be marked as one of the highlights of the theatre season." Macbeth is partially funded by the Malta Arts Council through the MAF Project Fund. Book tickets from www.te- atrumanoel.com.mt, or teatru manoel box office: 2124 6389. Teatru Manoel and Unifaun collaborating on landmark Macbeth production Banquo (Jonathan Dunn) surrounded by the Weird Sisters (Sacha Calleja, Julia Camilleri, Naomi Knight) | Photo Mark Zammit Cordina Macbeth (Mikhail Basmadjian) and Lady Macbeth (Erica Muscat) Photo Mark Zammit Cordina