Shakespeare at Fort St Elmo

The MADC crew has rolled up its sleeves to spruce up Fort St Elmo, Valletta, in time for its annual Shakespeare play that starts this week.

For the second year running, MADC is breaking with its tradition of holding the play at San Anton Gardens - where it has been held since World War II - and moving to different venues.

After last year's success at the site of the former Royal Opera House in Valletta, MADC is this summer putting up Shakespeare's most dramatic and chilling play Macbeth between July 5 and 9.

The play is directed by acclaimed Australian director Geoffrey Borny, a visiting fellow and member of the Emeritus Faculty at the Australian National University.

Dr Borny is as an award-winning actor and director. He has directed Hamlet, Othello, Twelfth Night and Julius Caesar, though this is the first time tackling Macbeth.

The cast includes Paul Portelli as Macbeth, Charlotte Grech as Lady Macbeth, Alan Paris as Macduff, Paula Fleri Soler as Lady Macduff, Katherine Brown, Faye Paris and Maxine Calleja Urry as the three witches, Jean Pierre Agius as Banquo, Ralph Mangion as Lennox, Colin Willis as Ross and Martin Azzopardi as Duncan. The performance includes Renzo Spiteri on percussion. Performances start at 9 p.m.

Tickets at €15 are available from St James Cavalier, Valletta. Call 2122 3200 or drop an e-mail to bookings@sjcav.org. There will be a special preview performance for secondary school students on Thursday at a discounted price of €10.

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