Simon Bartolo lectures at Junior College, where he is also the drama coordinator. Simon himself is a product of St Augustine’s College, although he claims that the best education he received came from “the couple of years (he) worked in a factory”. This experience really taught Simon to respect education, and since then he has made it his mission! Books are probably his greatest love, and today Simon has made it his mission to try to get young people to not just pass their exams but to enjoy reading/studying as well.

Together with three other people, Simon founded Aleateia Theatre Group in 1992. Now it is one of the most important things in his life. Aleateia is producing an original two-act play written and directed by Simon himself, on 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 November at the MITP theatre in St Christopher Street, Valletta. It is titled Drowning Lilies, more information may be obtained from www.aleateia.com or by writing to [email protected]

n How old are you? Star sign and date of birth?

I’m 36 years old and I’m a typical Taurean, born on 1 May 1968.

n Significant other?

Loranne Vella – we’ve been married since 1996 and we do everything together. We are currently working on a Maltese novel for teens entitled Sqaq l-Infern, which we hope will be published early next year.

n What would you like to be doing in 10 years’ time?

Signing copies of my Nobel-winning, best-selling, instant classic novel.

n What is your idea of perfect happiness?

My idea is that perfect happiness is an illusion that can only be achieved by chemical substances so – No thanks! I’ll settle for the normal, daily type of happiness.

n What is your favourite occupation?

I have two: preparing food and reading.

n What is your greatest fear?

I have so many fears – cockroaches, planes, earthquake, failure… The greatest depends on which day it is!

n What is it that you most value in your friends?

Sincerity and the courage and strength to change and evolve.

n How would you like to die?

From a short terminal disease that gives me enough time to settle stuff and also to say goodbye to my loved ones.

n What is your greatest extravagance?

I’m really not an extravagant person. I might eat a Margherita (my favourite pizza) from time to time even though I suffer from lactose intolerance and am trying hard to follow a raw vegan diet.

n What is your greatest regret?

Not having learned to play a musical instrument (violin or cello or French horn) when I was young, even though my father really tried hard to convince me to take up the clarinet.

n What is your most treasured possession?

My father’s wedding ring.

n Which talent would you most like to have apart from the ones you already have?

Music.

n What do you regard as the lowest depth of

misery?

The state of world affairs today.

n Where would you like to live?

I’m happy in Malta although I have contemplated living on (any) one of the Greek islands.

n What is your most marked characteristic?

Saying what is on my mind. Making people laugh at my frankness, and the fact that they do not take me too seriously. I love humour, though.

n Who are your heroes/heroines in real life?

Thomas Pynchon, Taddeusz Kantor, George Orwell, Marilyn Manson and Jason Vale.

n What is it that you most dislike?

Hypocrisy. That is why I like animals so much.

n What is your motto?

“Don’t Dream it – Be it.” Taken from one of my favourite films ever, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.