Benno Plassmann, German-born director and actor is in Malta this month for both the Malta Festival and SUPA. He has directed and produced in the presence of the international theatre network Linea Trasversale at the Malta Festival (do you remember the clowns from Brazil and Italy around Valletta earlier?!), and now he is set to appear in the premiere of his newly reworked solo performance New Adventures of Baron Munchausen on 18/19 August in Valletta’s MITP.

The show is based around poetic stories of the famous 18th century German nobleman, written especially for this purpose by Scotland’s National Poet Edwin Morgan. Benno is very happy to be back in Malta, 10 years after leaving in 1997. He had been one of the founders of the research programme xHCA at the University of Malta, where he worked together with Director Ingemar Lindh, and John Schranz in the years 1995/1996/1997. He now lives in Berlin, from where he directs the varied projects of his Glasgow-based company, The Working Party. He is also one of the directors of the international performers’ network Linea Trasversale, and sees himself as seriously committed to travelling, in all its geographical and non-

geographical forms.

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

38, Aries, 22 March 1969.

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

Still more theatre, still more adventures.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Inside-outside flow. Intensive flow of energy and a sail speeding along.

What is your favourite occupation?

Trying to understand what I am doing, what we are doing, in company.

Significant other?

Sure, more than significant, always more.

What is your greatest fear?

The black hole of time inside each and every one of us.

What is it that you most value in your friends?

The openness for a good free fight.

How would you like to die?

Am I allowed to be superstitious here and not mention it?

What is your greatest extravagance?

My red silk dressing gown. Doing theatre.

What is your greatest regret?

To not have realized earlier that life is a big meditation exercise. The “regret” part of that realisation is soon going to fade as well, I’m sure.

What is your most treasured possession?

A picture that reminds me of the time before I can remember.

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

To draw.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

To not have the strength to remember that the sun is going to rise tomorrow as well.

Where would you like to live?

Within me, in company.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Can’t seem to deal with authority; this way and that.

Who are your heroes/heroines in real life?

Project managers in disaster relief zones.

What is it that you most dislike?

The noise of metal scraping between gravel and tarmac.

What is your motto?

Life is normally normal.