Toni Attard is a man who wears many hats. For more than a decade in the public arts sector, Toni led numerous national cultural projects, established 10 public arts funding programmes and co-authored national cultural policies and strategies for the arts and the creative economy.
At any one time, he may be directing a hard-hitting play, acting with any one of Malta's many theatrical companies and serving as Artistic Director for myriad projects and festivals... all in the same day!
Toni is also the founder and director of Culture Venture - an advisory, production and training firm specialising in the cultural and creative sectors.
Does he ever sleep, I wonder?
Toni is currently in rehearsals for 'Sleeping Beauty'. A self-confessed 'adult panto virgin', Toni says he suspects that like other adult pantos it's as silly, as loud and as fun as the other shows.
"Only Steve (Hili; the adult panto creator and director) can come up with something that gives life, in the most ridiculously funny way, to sleeping beauty, a mankini and toys that are definitely not connected to any classic fairytale," laughs Toni, "I'm playing Dame Susanna Patricia Ursola Portelli, also known as... well since this is a respectable newspaper it would be better not to disclose any further information!"
What's unique and different about a sleeping beauty that won't be awoken by true love's kiss but by the all the possibilities that can only happen in an adult panto?
"I guess the show expresses most of the things we'd like to say about each other, about politicians and society in general in the most open, unfiltered and uncensored way," Toni explains, "It's just a good laugh with friends. And who knows maybe Steve finally gets rid of his famous mankini once and for all."
Toni says that it was great to work with actors he had never had the opportunity to work with before.
"Experimenting with a darker and more in-your-face humour was also fun as well as technically challenging," he admits, "However, rehearsing in high heels was definitely the most painful of them all! Seriously ladies, how do you cope... and is that suffering really necessary?"
According to Toni, the main challenge of playing his character will be making sure that the Dame won't steal any men from the audience until the show ends.
"Some may be lucky enough to experience some close encounters but what happens in adult pantoland, stays in adult pantoland," he says with a cheeky smile.
Steve Hili's Adult Panto in summer is back from Friday 1st June until Sunday 10th June at Spazju Kreattiv at St James Cavalier in Valletta. As well as Toni Attard, this year's offering brings together all your favourites from the adult panto gang with Taryn Mamo Cefai, Naomi Knight, Gwyillm Bugeja, Joe Depasquale, Undine Le Verve and Sean Briffa - all at their very naughtiest - as well as some very special guests.
Tickets start from €18 and are available from www.adultpantomalta.com. This show is rated 18+