Dragut never forgave us for that fatal blow the mother of the Maltese girl, Susanna, gave to his temples. Throughout the years, his spirit never rested until he possessed the hands of the renowned author Trevor Zahra and forced him to rewrite history.

Still, this was not enough for this Turkish leader. He has now hypnotised the members of the theatre group Kast into researching anecdotes and characters that had connections with Valletta.

The author and the actors toiled away into the late hours of several nights, with Dragut’s screeching spurring them on to write, discuss, devise and come up with original ideas to present not the typical history episodes of the capital city but a whimsical and satirical retort to repay for the damaging blow to his reputation caused by the Maltese in the Great Siege.

Through Xagħret Mewwija: L-Istorja tal-Belt …Milwija , the pirate wanted to make sure that the modern audience gets a closer and dirtier look at characters like La Vallette, Laparelli, Lascaris and others, who retain all the glory in the history books.

Of course, he could not leave out Susanna’s mother, that witch, who had dealt him that fateful blow with the clay jar she was carrying on her way to the village well.

Dragut was not happy until he made Kast rehearse for a new theatre production, with an appeal to anyone who wants to have a real and light-hearted look at what went on to make Valletta the city it is today.

Xagħret Mewwija: L-Istorja tal-Belt… Milwija is supported by the Malta Arts Fund and takes place on January 25, 26 and 27 and on February 1, 2 and 3 at St James Cavalier, Valletta.

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