‘Il-Missier’ is a Maltese adaptation of Florian Zeller’s critically acclaimed French stage play  ‘Le Père’, or ‘The Father’ in English. Not only will this play star a Maltese cast, with Mario Micallef as the lead and Simone Ellul as his daughter Anne, it will be performed entirely in Maltese. This refreshing version, translated by Alfred Palma, is being produced under the direction of Jacob Piccinino.

The spectator is taken on a profoundly touching journey through the intricacies of identification, family, and the fragility of the human mind. The themes and dialogue in this Maltese script are just as masterfully conveyed as in the original award-winning version by Florian Zeller. Adrian Mamo, the Manoel Theatre’s artistic director stated that “theatre has an important role in the expression of all that makes us human, our challenges, our hopes, and our fears.”

Zeller wrote the play in French at first, ofcourse, and it was Christopher Hampton who translated it into English later on. ‘The Father’ has been performed in several countries and won numerous awards, including the coveted Molière Award for Best Play in 2014. The play was even adapted into a film directed by Zeller himself in 2020, starring famous actors Olivia Colman and Sir Anthony Hopkins.

The Maltese production’s main actors, Mario Micallef and Simone Ellul, will be joined by a strong ensemble that includes Charles Sammut, Angele Galea, Mikhail Basmadjian, and Sarah Camilleri. Prepare to be taken on an unpredictable and empathetic journey as the boundaries between reality and illusion become increasingly hazy.