This Week • December 28 2003

A spontaneous and devil-may-care sort of guy

Actor Stefan Cachia Zammit has already tucked in numerous performances in a relatively short time span and despite his relatively young age is a polished performer. A shy kid early on by his own admittance, Cachia Zammit is anything but shy now, and is often the heart and soul of social events, ever quick witted and ready to ‘act.’
Stefan is sharpening his skills for his next production, the British black comedy, ‘A Slight Accident,’ by James Saunders, about a woman that kills her husband and continues her life as if nothing had happened. In the play, and unlike his ‘real’ life, Cachia Zammit is to play a man ruled by routine to the extent that he knows exactly what he will be doing several years later, down to the exact date and time. You can catch Stefan Cachia Zammit in Actinghouse Productions’ play starting 13 February.

What first what inspired you to act, any family inspiration?
As far as I know, no thespian traces in the family, even going back a few generations. As a child, I hardly ever got a whiff of the stage, let alone walk the boards. I remember being enthralled watching performances of a rock opera or a famous musical performed by sixth formers at my school, De La Salle College. I kept following the rehearsals from a distance whenever I could, but being a very shy kid, I always thought being on stage was just a whimsical dream. I first got my chance in the 1991 Christmas pantomime with MADC, as part of the chorus. I enjoyed it tremendously and acting has become a passion since then.

Do you get the chance to see theatre abroad? If so what do you look for?
I decide to travel always at the very last minute, which is very ironic, since I happen to work in the outgoing travel industry. I never pre-book theatre tickets before arriving at a particular destination and I decide what to watch on the spot. Consequently, I have often been left standing empty-handed at the ticket booth, looking rather downcast! I do not usually go for grand spectacle or musicals and prefer fringe theatre or an intimate play where I can fully appreciate the acting. I am also lured by famous actors and classical plays and I’ll often watch a veteran at work without bothering too much about the genre. I have yet to attend a theatre festival abroad like Edinburgh where I can really get stuck in.

Are there actors (Maltese or worldwide) you admire?
I admire and respect many Maltese actors for their sheer dedication. I think people need to be reminded that Maltese actors work in what is practically an amateur environment and yet show enormous potential, sometimes even equalling professionals. Karmen Azzopardi and Mary Lu Coppini are definitely two of the great talents. When it comes to international actors, I tend to favour the Brits - some of my favourites are Ian McKellan, Michael Caine, Judy Dench and Anthony Hopkins. The yanks?....Johnny Depp, Ed Norton, Pacino and De Niro.

What would you like to see done to achieve a higher quality theatre and attract more people to the shows in Malta?
I think that in the long term, we can only achieve and sustain better theatre by examining whether drama is a form of expression for children in schools at all levels, rather than just another item on the curriculum. Actors, directors, writers and all involved in the art need to move to the professional medium as soon as possible. Are we in dire need of a national organisation that would encourage and support the said participants to progress? In the short term we perhaps need to look at the entertainment value of the plays we produce besides the artistic level. Are we really responding to the demands?

Of all the roles you have played so far which is your most memorable and why?
Difficult to decide but perhaps Lafeu in Shakespeare’s ‘All’s Well that Ends Well.’ I played a 70 year old courtier and advisor to a physically ailing king. Apart from the obvious difficulty of playing someone 40 years my senior, I had to achieve balance in the character’s nature – he was both witty and wise. I altered my voice to suit the role but at the same time, I had to reach a compromise on clarity. All this in a three-piece suit during a heat wave in July, in San Anton Gardens. I was unsure of the outcome until the end of the play, but I think I pulled it off.

Your next play is 'A Slight Accident,' can you tell me something about your role?
It’s black comedy and I get to play this character whose life is ruled by routine. He even blows his nose at regularly timed intervals! It’s going to be a challenge as first of all, I’m quite a spontaneous, devil-may-care sort of guy in real life. This role may seem unimportant to the audience at first but must be played very convincingly as it has a crucial bearing toward the end of the play.

Do you see plays in Malta as being too text based? Too director driven? A good balance?
Well, it depends on whom you work with and the type of play. From my experience I have felt that we tend to be rigid at times, when preparing a production. Perhaps more improvisation, workshops and discussion during rehearsals would be welcomed by actors however I cannot really take directors and producers to task. All of us involved are not exposed enough to innovative ideas.

Is it correct to say that theatre in Malta is going through a new lease of life?
The current situation is certainly positive. New companies and groups have recently been formed on our island and this has definitely broadened the spectrum when it comes to productions and genres. More importantly, we are beginning to experience fresh ideas and new directions. My only concern is that this fair weather may be short lived. Unfortunately, I feel that the guardians of our national culture have not given enough serious consideration to this great art.