Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/874823
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2017 31 This Week How did you first get started in theatre, and what would you say were some of the key formative experiences you've had in the profession so far? I was always interested in thea- tre from a very early age and did the usual things; lots of amateur experience which led to me be- coming a member of the Na- tional Youth Theatre of Great Britain and culminating in me going to drama school for three years in London. I have been in- credibly fortunate in the work I have been able to do and this has given me an opportunity to appear in and direct some great plays. In terms of formative experi- ence, obviously my first profes- sional job, securing a West End agent, my first directorial mo- ment, directing my first Maltese production and the opportunity to help other young actors to develop their skills through my teaching of acting. You are both a theatre director and actor – how do you approach these separate disciplines, and what kind of appeal does each hold for you? Both disciplines require an altogether different approach. I am always incredibly hard on myself and am a consummate planner. With acting I am a stickler for accuracy and don't tolerate paraphrasing, the play- wright sweated hours to write those words, I have a duty to say them correctly. After 40 years in the industry I am quite fussy about which roles I take – for me there has to be a challenge, it isn't about size of role but how much will this role push me. With regard to directing, simi- larly I will not direct a play I am not hungry to direct. I plan eve- rything well in advance and dur- ing the rehearsal process when I have done what I need to do for that particular rehearsal day I release the actors – I am not a fan of repeating the same thing or scene over and over again in rehearsal. Interestingly, my directorial credits and acting credits amount to equal, I've di- rected as many shows as I have been in. What attracted you to Skylight – both the script itself and this MADC production in particular – and what kind of experience do you hope it will transmit to the local audience? I was fascinated by Skylight very soon after it's West End de- but and was keen to direct it in Malta or at least see it produced. Andre [Agius], who had been in my cast for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, had heard me talking about it and approached me to ask me if I would be of- fended if he took it on as his directorial debut. Of course, I was delighted that he wanted to direct it. He asked me if I would mentor him and again I was flat- tered that he considered me in this role. Well, one thing led to another and here I am playing Tom in the production as well. I have always been a huge fan of Simone Spiteri's work and I am so lucky at last to get a chance to work with her. The final piece in the jigsaw is Alex Weenink who plays my son and is one of my students at Stagecoach. Skylight is a beautifully struc- tured play, the subject of which I know will touch a nerve with many. It's a poignant, bitter- sweet love story with so many twists and turns, that the audi- ence may leave with very differ- ing ideas about where the pro- tagonists go from here. Interestingly, people have asked how is the experience with the director, Andre having his directorial debut directing two established theatre direc- tors. Directing is all about con- sultation, a two way partnership, not ordering people around. Andre has had a very clear vi- sion right from the start but has never been afraid to ask for Simone and I's opinion making this production totally collabo- rative. Malta's audiences are in for a great play. Do you think that – contrary to what some people have been saying recently – Maltese actors can reach international standards? How would you describe some of the challenges local actors face? I have lived in Malta for four years and in that time I have had the opportunity to watch and work with some incredibly talented actors. I am heartened that many young actors are now going overseas to enhance their skills at recognised drama schools in Europe. The positive side of this is that even if they cannot forge a career in say, the UK, they return to Malta with these skills and this can only be applauded. This could of course be a de- velopment for Malta: an accred- ited full time performing arts college taught by working pro- fessional practitioners to feed into a National Theatre struc- ture in Malta. In a recent article, one of those who has responsibility for the development of the arts in Malta, stated that he believed that the standard was low and that there was no one to take on some of the large roles e.g. John Proctor in The Crucible. My worry is that those that are tasked with this develop- ment are not getting out there and seeing the talent that is on show. In a way I am fortunate to be able to look at this objec- tively, being a professional actor and director from overseas and I can state for the record, there is a multitude of talent in Malta from actors to directors, from stage management to producers. What would you change about the theatrical scene in Malta? There seems to be drive to de- velop Maltese speaking theatre and I think this is marvellous, of course Malta should celebrate it's wonderful language and cul- ture. I was fortunate recently to direct Metamorphosis at The Malta International Arts Festi- val all in the Maltese language. However, we should not forget the huge canon of other work out there and I think it would be a mistake to leave this material solely to those brave producers who produce this work alone and unsupported by those in charge of the arts. What's next for you? I have two films to film, then I shall be playing The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland at the Manoel for Christmas before directing The Memory of Water by Shelagh Stephenson at Blue Box in February Skylight will be performed at the Valletta Campus Theatre, St Paul's Street, Valletta Septem- ber 29, 30 and October 1, 6-8. An MADC Theatre production, the play is directed by Andre Agius and the rest of the cast in- cludes Simone Spiteri and Alex Weenink. On October 7, the per- formance will be a Notte Bianca special at 18:30, which will in- clude a complementary welcome drink and a post-show Q&A ses- sion with the actors and direc- tor. The rest of the performances will start at 20:00. Bookings: www.madc.com.mt, bookings@ madc.com.mt or by calling on 7777 6232 Soon to trod the boards once again in the MADC-produced, Andre Agius-directed Skylight – the acclaimed contemporary hit from David Hare – UK-born actor -director Stephen Oliver gives TEODOR RELJIC his impressions on the Maltese theatrical scene, and fills us in on what we can expect from the upcoming play music Don't forget the canon "I've decided to turn it into something of a road trip! So we'll be heading out from here via France and Italy... then getting the ferry out from either Southern Italy or Sicily – we'll see!" The Wedding Present will be performing alongside Weval (NL), Pional (ES) and Happy- ness (UK) as well as local acts Fabricka, KNTL and The Velts at The Dome, San Gwann on September 30. The gig forms part of the Nil by Mouth con- cert series, and is co-organ- ised by HairyAmp and Track- age Scheme. Doors open at 20:00. Bookings:https://shop. trackagescheme.com/event/ nil-mouth-sessions/ "My worry is that those tasked with overseeing theatrical development are not getting out there and seeing the talent that is on show" Stephen Oliver with his Skylight co-star, Simone Spiteri