Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/341807
26 THIS WEEK CULTURE | TV | FILM CINEMA LISTINGS FOOD | WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK How did you set about adapting Homer to a Maltese audience? Jes Camilleri: As Theatre Anon we had been contemplating a number of ideas for a children's theatre piece. When Chris Gatt first suggested that we should try adapting Homer's Odyssey, we thought he was joking because we all thought it would be too com- plex, too long and too adult for children. However we soon real- ised that deep within the complex- ity of the piece were a number of unforgettable stories that would capture the imagination of any child. So we looked at the essential storylines within the different epi- sodes and then we chose those that we felt were the most memorable and lent themselves to dramati- sation. We had also decided at an early stage that the piece would be in Maltese as we felt that it could be a way of making the piece more appealing to a wide spectrum of Maltese children. What elements of Homer's Odyssey in particular are 'Maltese', do you think? How did you highlight this aspect? JC: We did not try to make our adaptation about a specific place or time as we felt the stories in themselves were both timeless and universal, so although the show is in Maltese it can resonate with any audience regardless of nationality. For example, the fact that Gozo is the island that everybody associ- ates with Calypso's tale is purely in- cidental and we do not try to make a point of illustrating it to give it a local connection. Having said that, however, the stories and the characters resonate strongly with an audience coming from a small Mediterranean island steeped in a strong maritime tradition like Malta and therefore we felt that staging the piece at the Maritime Museum made perfect sense. Do you think we need this kind of theatre in Malta; that addresses Maltese identity and culture in a more subtle and fantastical way than all-out political/topical theatre? JC: Fantasy allows the viewer to disregard factual possibilities and be transported to realms that open up new possibilities rather than simply strengthen already held beliefs. It stops the viewer getting too hung up with asking, "Can this have ever happened?", "Is this trying to make a point?" and, "Do I agree with the point being made?" Theatre Anon were never about "sending a message" sim- ply because very often we are not 100% sure ourselves about our own viewpoints. It is this self-doubt that allows us to look for creative pos- sibilities rather than try to preach any form of certainty. An "all-out political theatre" very often ends up preaching to the converted and hardens the beliefs of the detrac- tors. What were some of the main challenges of the production so far? How would you say it compares to other Theatre Anon productions – most notably Ospizio, which also draws from Maltese heritage and culture? Paul Portelli: The islands are a stage, not only a pretty film set. However underneath the surface, if we look hard enough, we can begin to unearth and dig up the stories. We can begin to find our voice. We need to find the courage to tear ourselves away from the safe, cosmetic zones of pretence and affected performance and get un- derneath the skin of all that is hap- pening or is meant to be happen- ing around us. We need to become relevant. In Ospizio we dared to abandon the safety of our com- fort zones and we began a process which we hope to return to again. Ir-Ritorn will be staged between July 23 and 25. For more informa- tion log on to www.maltaartsfesti- val.org TEODOR RELJIC speaks to Jes Camilleri and Paul Portelli of the Theatre Anon crew, as they embark on 'Ir-Ritorn', an ambitious Maltese-language take on Homer's Odyssey aimed at children, which will be taking place at the Malta Maritime Museum in Birgu as part of the Malta Arts Festival Embarking on Homer's Odyssey… in Maltese The cast of Ir-Ritorn, from left: Pierre Stafrace, Jes Camilleri, Paul Portelli, Liliana Portelli and Charlotte Stafrace