Winter on a summer’s day | Nicola Abela Garrett

How does it feel to be back in San Anton?

This will be my first time performing at San Anton Gardens, in my beloved hometown of Attard! It is both an honour and a privilege to be working in such an environment which has housed and formed the great MADC Shakespeare tradition for so many years. The atmosphere of the gardens goes so well with the story of The Winter's Tale, and by transforming a recreational space by day, familiar to so many Maltese families, into a performance space by night, will certainly serve as an exciting arena for our audience.

The Winter's Tale might not be the most popular of Shakespeare's works. How do you hope to make it attractive and palatable to audiences, particularly for people who may not have a scholarly knowledge of the Bard's works?

I think it's a fresh break from the usual big 'uns of Shakespeare. It shouldn't always be King Lear or Othello or Romeo and Juliet. People may not know the ending of The Winter's Tale, so by telling a new story, our audience will be more inclined to follow the plot as it unfolds. As performers, it's always refreshing to work with new material and unknown characters. I didn't have a pre-conceived idea of Perdita, as I have for Juliet or Lady Macbeth, and as I delve into her character, it's like getting to know someone and later realising that she's quite an under-appreciated gem in Shakespeare's collection of roles.

What are some of the enduring themes of this particular play - do you think it remains relevant to our times?

The play deals with jealousy, fatherhood, young love, and class difference, to mention a few. We're human - we get jealous and suspicious, we experience young stupid love, and no matter how much our politics have evolved, there's always the issue of hierarchy in every society. We see the obstacle of royal duties getting in the way of love. But if it's good for Prince William, it's good for Florizel. I'm sure Charles didn't kick up a fuss when Kate nabbed Wills. Perdita, eventually, gets her charming handsome prince, and love conquers all.

Could you describe what the energy between the cast and crew is like as you prep for the performance?

We're lucky enough to be a troupe of actors who have been working together for a good five years. We're practically siblings. We know each other's reactions, moods and energies, and we're as tight-knit as they come. Polly [March, the director] is like a mother to us, guiding us and enlightening us about new ways of approaching the Bard... and it's a learning experience from which we are all greatly benefitting. (She also makes awesome sandwiches and curries.) Re-introducing the MADC's Shakespeare at San Anton is a huge responsibility for us, I feel, but we're close enough as a group to know that we can rock on as we already have in the past.

The play, naturally, requires an ensemble cast. Having experienced the assembled mix of Maltese talent that will make up the play, how would you describe the level of talent on show?

As I've said before, it's a fantastic advantage to have known each other for so long. We all complement each other and give a little something that makes the production whole, and we deliver our fortes to the max, all managed by Polly's refined but raw direction and guidance.

The Winter's Tale will be playing from July 25 to 29. All performances start at 20:45. Tickets at €18 can be booked from www.madc.biz.