The time has come to give tribute to Malta’s leading playwright – Francis Ebejer – and rightly so because Francis Ebejer deserves every tribute he can get since his plays inspired other Maltese authors and he revolutionised our local theatre scene.
It was Bronk Productions who came out with the idea of resurrecting some of Ebejer’s great works. The producers, together with Dominic Said, who came up with the idea, designed a collection of some of his greatest works in a special evening to commemorate this great playwright – Francis Ebejer – in an evening entitled An evening with Ebejer.
Indeed, the project is an interesting and intriguing one, as some of the actors playing the various roles from his work, have actually worked or been directed by the former Francis Ebejer himself; namely John Suda, Inez Farrugia, Karmenu Vella, Maria Vella, Joe Quattromani and Dominic Said who is directing and designing this project.
The evening is in the form of theatrical episodes from some of his greatest works, including Is Sejha ta’ Sarid, Il-Hadd fuq il-Bejt, Hitan, and his last work, Il-Gahan ta’ Bingemma.
Benny Casha, one of the producers of Bronk Productions said, “We are honoured and proud to commemorate our leading playwright Francis Ebejer, and with the blessing of his son, Damien Ebejer, also an artist, we have been encouraged to pay tribute to Ebejer’s work. Indeed, some of the actors are veterans in our local theatre sphere here in Malta, and also worked directly with him. I am sure it will be interesting to see these actors again, after so many years, relive the experience of Ebejer again. And where else could we present this magical evening if not at St James Cavalier?”
Dominic Said, the director of the project said, “I tried to collect various pieces of his work and at different times of his writing time, and the choice was a difficult task because I find all his work exciting. Working personally with Ebejer himself in former times myself on some of his plays, I feel honoured and proud to reward him for the great experience he taught me. And this I do by refreshing the memory of those who were familiar with his work, and also to introduce his work to a new audience.”
Besides the veteran actors named above, other new and talented actors will be playing next to these pillars of our Maltese theatre, namely Stephanie Grech Mallia, Antoinette Caruana, Jesmond Triccas, Joseph Fenech, Noel Calleja, SaraLee Zammit, Maureen Camilleri Barun and Mario Spiteri knows as “Snits”, who will be playing the part of Gahan with a fresh and exciting look.
Ebejer’s work still holds to this day. The themes, characters, plots and stories are valid and run parallel to life to this very day. Characters like Sarid and his fight to understand the pains of life, or the tormented Rita to come to terms with herself in Il Hadd fuq il Bejt, or the pain of truth in Hitan, still hold truths and life experiences that are today still painful.
This theatre piece is to be held at St James Cavalier on 28, 29, and 30 September, at 8pm. For further information please phone on tel. 2122-3347 or mob. 9940-6258.