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THIS WEEK THEATRE maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MARCH 2019 4 Actress Erica Muscat speaks to TEODOR RELJIC about taking on the role of Lady Macbeth in the upcoming production of William Shakespeare's timeless and merciless play, staged at the Manoel Theatre and directed by Clive Judd Getting a chance to play Lady Macbeth is no small feat, and often considered to be something of a coup for any actress – precisely because the character makes for a complex, and not all that easily digestible role, both for the audience and the performer. What was it that excited you most about being given the opportunity to take on this role in the upcoming Unifaun Theatre production of William Shakespeare's classic tragedy? A deep-seated urge to embody the role of Lady Macbeth has been a dream of mine ever since I first read the opening lines of Macbeth, way back in my school days. This dream turned into somewhat of an obsession over the years as I began to delve into the historical life of the woman known as Gruoch Mac- bethad. So my approach to the role, as is the case with any role rooted in history, has been to focus on how I can honour the memory of the wom- an who lived, breathed, laughed and cried and not to take on an 'iconic' Shakespearean character. The beauty of Shakespeare is that there is no black and white to his de- pictions and although, at face value, Lady Macbeth seems to engage in malicious intent, I firmly believe that beneath anybody's malicious intent is an experience of pain. No child is born evil, or angry or malevolent and it's incredible to see how many beautiful moments of humanity are offered by Shakespeare to peel away the layers and view what lies beneath, even in her darkest hours. It's taken a toll on me in many ways and my sleep has suffered tremendously, but like all great roles to be played, it has taught me an incredible deal about myself and the judgment on others I'm often guilty of bestowing. Being humble and grateful has served me to not let the work bleed into my life. Couple this behemoth of a role with the fact that I am playing op- posite Mikhail Basmadjan, one of the most empathetic actors I have ever worked with, sharing the stage with some of the most exciting tal- ent on the island, performing on the national stage and being direct- ed by an emboldening director like Clive Judd, it's all coming together in what I hope will be a pinnacle in my career. Shakespeare's plays are often lauded for their supposedly universal and Teodor Reljic Transmuting an icon into flesh and blood "Theatre should serve as an experiential laboratory to make sense of a world that seems to make so little sense otherwise"