The Dutch theatrical vessel, Ship of Fools, is presenting The World Upside Down at the Grand Harbour Marina, Vittoriosa, as part of the Malta Arts Festival, with performances starting today and running until Sunday.

The World Upside Down is a comic theatre play about the absurdity of the human condition. It combines the

theatre of gesture, satiric comedy and the circus, and will be performed in the natural setting of the Grand Harbour Marina’s quayside. It is an hour of spectacular folly that will be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

“The Malta Arts Festival – Summer 2006 has provided a vibrant and diverse programme of artistic activities,” said Malta Council for Culture and the Arts executive director Paul V. Mifsud. “The spectacular musical theatre production performed by a multi-national crew on the Ship of Fools adds a distinct feature to this year’s programme. We are confident that Ship of Fools will offer an enjoyable evening for all the family.”

Ship of Fools is presenting three stories. The first one is inspired by Roberto Alajmo, the author of the fascinating story of fools called Repertorio dei Pazzi di Palermo, an account of more than 200 local village idiots who live or have lived in Palermo. The second story is an adaptation of Tim Burton’s Robot Boy and the third story is Molière’s farce, The Flying Doctor, performed in a commedia dell’arte style.

The main theme of these stories is family life, including birth, death and marriage.

Managed and directed by Captain August Dirk, Ship of Fools is a sailing theatre company in the carnivalesque tradition of the travelling buffoon. The troupe sails from harbour to harbour aboard The Azart, their 1916 Dutch herring lugger that serves as both their stage and home.

Entrance tickets are determined by the weight of the spectator – two cents a kilo – and these are sold directly at the performance at Birgu. All performances start at 9pm.

Reservations for Ship of Fools can be made at the Malta Arts Festival Information Stand, Freedom Square, Valletta, the opening hours of which are: weekdays 8.30am to 1pm and 5pm to 9.30pm, and weekends from 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 9.30pm. Customers can also call the Malta Arts Festival hotline 9999-0145 or visit the website www.

maltaculture.com

Due to ongoing work at Cottonera Waterfront, members of the public are requested to park at Xatt ir-Risq and walk along the Cottonera Waterfront over the bridge under Fort St Angelo.