Masquerade Malta is producing two new plays as part of its upcoming theatre season, which will celebrate both its 25th Anniversary and the 10th anniversary of Blue Box at M Space.
Each with stellar casts, the two productions are the highlights of Malta’s new year theatre programme. Harold Pinter’s mesmerising masterpiece Betrayal will play from 20-29 January, while Misery, by William Goldman, based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel, will premiere in Malta from 17-26 February. What’s more, booking for both shows is now open with an exclusive early bird offer: all tickets purchased until December 31 for either show will have a discounted rate of €20, instead of the usual ticket price of €22.
“We are looking forward to kicking off 2023 with two incredible productions that are fitting celebrations of our 25th anniversary and of 10 great years at Blue Box at M Space,” says Masquerade Malta’s artistic director, anthony bezzina. “We were proud to obtain the professional performing rights for the psychological thriller Misery, which will premiere at the Blue Box in February. Both shows will have you on the edge of your seats and will continue Masquerade’s mission to produce a diverse programme of plays across genres, while giving a space to experienced and upcoming actors and directors. Here’s to the next 25 years!”
Both Misery and Betrayal also join other classic plays such as Animal Farm and Kes as part of Masquerade’s ‘Out of the Blue’ project, launched during the pandemic to create theatre applicable to a wider age range of audiences.
Directed by Ian Moore, Betrayal features an exceptional cast including Naomi Said, Edward Caruana Galizia and Nicholas Jackson, as they tell Harold Pinter’s tale of relationships and adultery. Tender, moving and widely considered to be Pinter’s most accessible work, this devastating dissection of a love triangle places the audience in the tantalising position of knowing more than the protagonists, while commenting on the nature of love and the competitiveness of friendship.
Meanwhile, Misery addresses obsession, in a gripping cat-and-mouse game between successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon and his ‘number one fan’ Annie Wilkes, who rescues him from a car crash and forces him to write about her favourite character, Misery Chastain. In this newly adapted Broadway production based on Stephen King’s bestselling psychological thriller, audiences feel trapped in the room with Paul as he tries to outsmart Annie and escape. Masquerade’s production brings together two of Malta’s finest actors, Isabel Warrington and Alan Paris, directed by Stephen Oliver, in what is sure to be a terrifying evening.
While Blue Box at M Space has become a sought-after venue for theatre and dance companies, Masquerade Malta is today one of the island’s leading theatre producers. The company was behind the sell-out, smash-hit local premiere of Matilda the Musical earlier this year, and now prepares to welcome the return of the Christmas pantomime with Ċikku and the Chocolate Panto at Teatru Manoel.
Performances of Betrayal will take place on 20-22, 26-29 January 2023, while Misery will be performed on 17-26 February 2023. Both productions will take place at Blue Box at M Space. For more information and to book tickets, visit www.masquerademalta.com.
