Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1455666
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 FEBRUARY 2022 8 ALMANAC My essentials STEPHEN OLIVER 65, professional theatre director, actor, vocal coach and drama Born and raised in the UK in the beautiful Cotswolds. Trained as an actor at the prestigious Webber Douglas Academy in London and have professionally in theatre, film and television for over 40 years. Father to two daughters, a fashion editor and a zoologist. 1 2 4 5 1. Book 3 2. Film/TV 3. Internet 4. Music 5. Place LOVE foreign films and in- die films far more than the regular blockbuster movies. Internationally it has to be 'The Secrets in their Eyes' (the Argentinian release) and my favourite film of all time, 'Twelve Angry Men' with the legendary Henry Fonda – I was lucky enough to direct the play version of this many years ago. I love the way the plot slowly un- folds and the film is matched by Sidney Lumet's amazing photography. I have a total dislike for in- fluencers; I think people call themselves influencers when they don't want to work for a living and am glad to say no influencer has ever in- fluenced me to do a single thing. I'm a massive YouTube watcher and love anything to do with true crime. For humour I'm an avid follower of the Canadian comedian, actor and singer Charlotte Dobre, she brightens my day. MY current production of 'Breaking the Code' is a quin- tessentially English story and is full of the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams. His mu- sic takes me back to where I grew up in Gloucestershire (and Vaughan Williams' birthplace). His Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis is what I want at my funeral when I go. I was lucky enough to go to China a few years ago. I loved the complete difference in culture, the food, the history, the people and would love to revisit. Other favourite places, Ireland, Barcelona, Durban, Montreal and New York and Malta, Gozo of course. WITH my obsession for all things related to crime and investigation I am currently reading Traces by Patricia, a forensic ecologist who with her knowledge of the natural world, uses traces of flora and fauna to help detectives solve cases. It may seem strange that someone like me, who has spent most of my life perform- ing and directing fictional works, should be drawn to non fiction. I am not alone in my interest in crime and forensics, my daughters have inherited this fascination too. We can now commit the perfect crime and get away with it lol.