While some directors discover productions on the page or the stage, Suspicious Minds found Justin Kyle Camilleri in a darkened theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - and it never quite let him go.

"It's quite surreal," says Justin, who is directing MADC's upcoming production of Tom Fowler's time-hopping romantic comedy. "While at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017, a friend invited me to see this curious little play. I remember leaving the theatre after the show and thinking, 'I've got to direct this someday.' Almost nine years later, I'm doing exactly that."

Suspicious Minds runs across two weekends at the MADC Playhouse between 17 and 26 April. Written by Fowler - whose work has also been staged at the Royal Court Theatre in London and by the BBC - it follows Mark and Fran, a couple whose relationship has reached breaking point. Instead of couples' therapy, their solution is considerably more ambitious: a commercial time-travel holiday, taking them from Ancient Rome to Regency England, 1940s New York and, eventually, an Elvis concert in Hawaii.

Further setting this wildly inventive production apart is its format. Suspicious Minds is performed in the style of radio-theatre - meaning the cast builds the world of the play live in front of the audience. Free from the limitations of a 'traditional' set, the four performers use Fowler's witty dialogue, foley sound effects and music to transport the audience to the story's extraordinary locations across time and space. "We're relying on the audience's imagination, the intimate setting of the MADC Playhouse and some ingenious foley effects," says Justin, "but we're fortunate enough to have the playwright's words do most of the heavy lifting."

Getting those effects to the standard the production demands is no small task. The rehearsal process, the director explains, moves in distinct stages: "First we dive into character work, then we incorporate props and sounds. Finally, with all these elements combined, we can truly bring this story to life." Each stage relies on the cast's creativity and tight-knit dynamic. "We have been constantly brainstorming different ideas during rehearsals on how best to create the play's sounds. This process requires trial and error to ensure every foley effect is meticulously planned and choreographed. Then again, there's always room for one or two surprises on the night!"

The excellent four-strong cast features Shaun Rizzo and Thea Costa as Mark and Fran, alongside Myron Ellul and Maya Micallef Engerer who play a wide range of supporting characters and create the live soundscapes that carry the audience from one era to the next. "Rehearsals have been a blast, mainly because of the incredible cast," says Justin. "There's a fair bit of joking around, but also a lot of hard work, boundless enthusiasm and genuine care being taken by everyone to do this brilliant play justice."

For MADC Artistic Director Stephen Oliver, the appeal of staging the production was immediate. "Tom Fowler's script is incredibly innovative and quite unlike anything MADC has ever approached before. It's witty, but at the same time explores serious themes, and the use of live sound effects adds just another hilarious layer to this extremely novel play."

At its heart, Suspicious Minds is a romantic comedy - and a candid love story. "What's great about Tom Fowler's script is that the two lead characters are extremely relatable - both flawed yet deeply human," says Justin. "Setting their relationship troubles in different locations and time periods allows the audience to view things from different perspectives, adds some much-needed levity and keeps the plot moving at a fast pace."

For Justin, Suspicious Minds offers both hope and laughter in equal measure. "The show is about taking chances and finding the courage to accept yourself," he adds. "My wish is for audiences to leave the theatre with a sense of hope that things, no matter how bad they seem, can always get better."

MADC's production of Suspicious Minds by Tom Fowler performs at the MADC Playhouse, Santa Venera, on 17, 18, 19 and 24, 25, 26 April, with all performances at 8pm. This production is suitable for audiences aged 16 and over. Tickets are priced at €20 and €25 and are available now at www.madc.com.mt.