Jonathan Shaw writes:

It’s not always easy to transcribe thoughts into words and even harder to put these on paper at times like these.

Francesca, Essa, Fiona, Kylie, Lorraine, Luke and Peter (and many more) – you are one of a kind and your admirable and constant dedication and support to Nirvana and her family is an example to everyone.

You are definitely more suited to write about Nirvana, yet I wanted to share my thoughts and experience of working with her on our project – Teatru Unplugged – over these 16 years.

It’s no secret that Nirvana and I had different styles of working and doing things, yet this is why we maintained a balance and managed to develop what is dubbed as one of Malta’s unique and prestigious musical events at the Manoel.

Nirvana was not just beautiful. Her strong personality and intelligence were far beyond what we saw with our eyes. She was also a perfectionist and had an eye for detail, which kept me and the event in check throughout these years. Her zero tolerance to mediocrity and to doing things right straight away was one of the many characteristics I will never forget about her.

I will never forget our excitement and satisfaction after our first Teatru Unplugged.

It had taken us about seven months to get the go-ahead from the Manoel’s committee to accept this kind of event and hence had our fair share of pressure to deliver.

We were both 25 at that time and then decided to repeat the event every year. “Jon, imagine Teatru Unplugged 20; we will be 45 at that time!” she had told me. This year Teatru Unplugged turns 16.

Nirri, you might not be here today with us, but Teatru Unplugged will stay and, more importantly, it will keep your memory alive. It’s been my plan over the past year yet I could never tell you this and it’s the least I can do today.

Marius, Joe, Anna, Sam and Noah: your wife, daughter and mother might have lost her battle to cancer, but she won over life and thousands of hearts.