Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna chair Mario Farrugia provided another photo of Ms Ratcliffe with Lisa.Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna chair Mario Farrugia provided another photo of Ms Ratcliffe with Lisa.

The people behind a play about Christina Ratcliffe, a woman who came to Malta to work as an entertainer and was later decorated for her contributions to the war effort, are looking for anyone who knew her or her friend Lisa.

The story of Ms Ratcliffe, who landed here as a cabaret performer and stayed on after falling in love with the island, will be retold in Valletta, through a musical play called Star of Strait Street by Philip Glassborow.

This newspaper last week published two photos: one of Ms Ratcliffe reading The Times of Malta – which carried four of her articles in the 1970s and 1980s – and another one showing the young woman with a friend.

In the latter photo, Ms Ratcliffe was captured on camera walking along a bombed Valletta street during the war with a friend identified as ‘Lisa’.

Entertainer Christina Ratcliffe seen above (at left) walking along a bombed Valletta street with a friend, believed to be called Lisa, during the war. Photo provided by Philip GlassborowEntertainer Christina Ratcliffe seen above (at left) walking along a bombed Valletta street with a friend, believed to be called Lisa, during the war. Photo provided by Philip Glassborow

Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna chair Mario Farrugia in the meantime provided another photo of the young woman with Lisa.

Mr Glassborow told this newspaper that Polly March and Larissa Bonaci, both of whom will portray Ms Ratcliffe in the play, would be very interested to meet anyone with any memories of the two women.

“And if Lisa or any of her family are still around, we would naturally love to ask them along to the show,” he continued.

The show will be presented at The Splendid next month by Strada Stretta Concept (led by artistic director Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci) and produced under the auspices of The Valletta 2018 Foundation.

Anyone who met Ms Ratcliffe or knows Lisa is invited to get in touch on starofstraitstreet@gmail.com.

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