The Gozo Creative Theatre Club organises theatrical performances regularly.
After last year’s success of the very witty play Confusions by Alan Ayckbourn, the Gozo Creative Theatre Club (GCTC) will be performing another challenging and emotional play by Sue Saunders called In Holland Stands a House.
This dramatic piece is based on the real diary of Anne Frank, a 13-year-old Jewish girl who chronicled the lives of two Jewish families hiding from the Nazis. The Frank family used to live in Frankfurt, Germany, but in 1933 Mr Frank brought his family to live in Amsterdam. He was among those who quickly realised that life for Jews would be impossible in Hitler’s Germany.
The Frank family led a normal life in Amsterdam; Anne and Margot went to local schools, made new friends and quickly learned to speak Dutch. Mr Frank had a prosperous business and this allowed them to live a comfortable life.
This all ended when Hitler’s troops invaded Holland in 1940. Soon anti-Jewish measures were introduced throughout Holland. Mr Frank made plans to protect his family by transferring his firm to the control of his manager as Jews were forbidden to own any kind of business and also prepared a hiding-place for his family and the Van Daans in the secret annexe above his office and warehouse.
Here, Anne’s family and friends escaped detection for more than two years with the help of four people who provided them with food, clothing, medicine, books and other daily necessities without being noticed by the neighbours or the other workers in the office and warehouse.
Anne, the youngest of the eight people in the secret annexe, kept a diary for 25 months. This play, which is based on this diary, skilfully interweaves a dramatised account of events in occupied Europe with domestic scenes from the secret annexe.
In Holland Stands a House deals with the issue of racism, as well as ethnic and cultural differences that are still current problems today.
The play will be staged at the Astra Theatre. The GCTC, as in previous performances, has decided once again to perform this play in an experimental way where the barriers between the actors and the audience are removed. The audience will become emotionally involved and get the sensation of being transported back in time and experiencing the feelings these two families were going through. The audience will become part of the story that is being performed.
In Holland Stands a House is directed by George Mizzi, the director of the GCTC. George Mizzi and his group of actors started working together on theatrical productions in 2002.
As one might already have noticed from previous productions, one of the objectives of the GCTC is the exploration of innovative and challenging forms of expression in experimental theatre. This group is undoubtedly one of the most authentic talents that have emerged in the sister island in recent years. The main actors taking part in this play are:
Dianne A. Galea as Controller1; Mariella Cassar as Controller 2; Margaret Cassar as Miep Gies; Julia Camilleri as Anne Frank; Marsette Xerri as Margot Frank; Marlene Saliba as Edith Frank; George Camilleri as Otto Frank; Cettina Scicluna as Mrs Van Daan; Franco Scicluna as Mr Van Daan; Joshua Grech as Peter Van Daan and Jamie Camilleri Albert Dussel
In Holland Stands a House will be performed at the Astra Theatre on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 February at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Astra Bar, Victoria, and from “Xt. Communication, Entertainment & Treats” at Tigrija Palazz, Victoria. Ticket hotlines: 2155 5744 and 7930 3101.
A selection of abstract paintings by artist Christopher Saliba will be displayed in the theatre’s foyer.
For further information about the GCTC and its
future productions contact the GCTC on e-mail at:
[email protected]