[attach id=242672 size="medium"]Girl power: (clockwise from right) Marta Vella, Magda van Kuilenberg, Coryse Borg, Maria Cutajar, Marilù Vella and Sharon Bezzina gang up on one of the strippers (Claudio Carta) in In-Nisa Maltin Jafu Kif.[/attach]

We do not have enough plays written in our native tongue. Fact. We have even fewer contemporary plays. Fact. And fewer still written by women. Fact. So it’s a wonderful thing when a play like In-Nisa Maltin Jafu Kif pops up on our radar. Fact!

Written by the talented Clare Azzopardi – who had also written L-Interdett taħt is-Sodda, which was staged in 2006 and starred an all-female cast – and directed by Marcelle Teuma, In-Nisa is being staged at the Manoel Theatre this weekend.

Marta Vella, Magda van Kuilenberg, Maria Cutajar, Marilù Vella, Sharon Bezzina and Coryse Borg star in this theatrical tour de force.

I had a gossip with the girls about rehearsals, Maltese society, oestrogen and strippers!

Marcelle, the director, tells me how the play came to life.

“Clare was asked to write a play for l-Istaġun tat-Teatru Malti, but she imposed two conditions: one, that she write a play about women, and two, that I would be the one to direct it. I accepted also for two reasons: first off, we share a synergetic working relationship when it comes to theatre; and secondly, Maltese women are not represented in theatre by women but by men and this has to change.

“When I read the play the first time, I was blown away. She exceeded my expectations. The way she threads the theme of mother-hood is incredible.”

Magda, who plays the part of Maria, a worn-out housewife with kids and a working husband, agrees: “The fact that I was reading an original play in Maltese which was so fast-paced and contemporary, appealed to me. The play is witty and it scared me at the same time. The women portrayed in this play are women I deal with in my everyday life”.

Marilù, who plays Ruth, representing the hot-blooded, nervous yet sensitive Maltese family woman, feels that the script has “the perfect balance of fun, laughter and drama. It’s very colloquial and modern”.

Play on women who come from different backgrounds yet have a special bond

Coryse plays the part of Nicolette, a notary married to a very patient ‘perfect’ man. They have a kid but she misses her old self, her old life, a lot.

She tells me she loves how “Clare’s script flows and has just the right amount of comedy, pathos and realism. The characters are well-rounded and, I believe, conform to today’s reality about being a woman in Malta”.

Sharon, who plays Gaby – a vain, assertive person and possibly not happy in her current situation with her husband – is happy that “the play focuses on Maltese women who come from different backgrounds, yet have a special bond. They have all experienced motherhood, love and exhaustion and each has her own story to tell”.

Maria who plays a nurse, Angele, “who wants to have some fun with the other girls and the strippers”, succinctly gives me her view – with a grin: “Nowadays women are their own boss – and don’t you dare disagree! Amen.”

We talk about the rehearsal process and what it was like being an (almost) exclusively female cast.

“I had a good time working with these women. I have six very beautiful and talented actresses and their commitment towards all that was required of them energised my directorial work,” says Marcelle.

Marilù adds: “The process has been extremely interesting to me as I’m used to doing physical theatre. I have learnt a lot. Marcelle was only hard on us when we needed her to be. She has allowed us to experiment with our characters in order to reach our full potential”. Maria weighs in: “The director is extremely org-anised... she’s a woman of course!”

Magda forms part of Dù Theatre – Malta’s only all-female theatre group, so she knows all the pros and cons of working with the female sex.

“Despite people’s perception that women fight when alone together, we worked extremely well as a team and bonded immediately.

“The director provided us with a lot of freedom to experiment with our characters. It was very important for us to have a good understanding of each other as teamwork is key in this play.”

I leave it to the girls to tell us what we, as audience, can expect from this production.

Magda believes that “it will challenge your views in an entertaining way”, while Coryse assures us that we’re in for an entertaining ride.

“Put a bunch of women (from whatever backgrounds) in a room and fun and mayhem are bound to follow!” she says with a smile.

Marcelle asserts that “this play primarily unveils the lack of voice that women have in society”.

Marilù, laughing, has the last word: “All we need now is you to join us on this adventure and we promise that we will share the strippers with you!”

• In-Nisa Maltin Jafu Kif is being staged at the Manoel Theatre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8pm. Tickets may be obtained by calling on 2124 6389; sending an e-mail to bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt; or from www.teatrumanoel.com.mt.