Going for the trophy | Chiara Hyzler

What was it like performing for an original script? How does this differ to some of your previous productions?

The script is great and really fun. There’s a lot you can sink your teeth into and play around with. Working with this script for me, hasn’t been any different from any other production as such, because I feel it should be tackled like any other, irrespective of the fact that it’s an original piece. The only difference is that since it’s an original script, we have a bit more flexibility to amend and query.

How would you describe your character?

Petra is such a fun character to play because she is a strong independent woman who has achieved bucket loads all by herself. She takes risks and is not afraid to make mistakes, even though I’m sure she’ll never say that out loud.

What were some of the main challenges of bringing her to life?

I find it’s sometimes hard to play such a strong female because you run the risk of going over the top and turning her into a militant feminist, just because she works in an industry dominated by males. The tricky part for me was to create a balance between making her authoritative and fun at the same time.

What’s the dynamic between the cast like during rehearsals?

We’re having a ball! I have worked with most of them before but that was ages ago, so it really has been a great experience to watch them work. The rehearsals are getting more fun every day as we struggle for lines, improvise through them, and then just laugh. I’m really honoured to form part of this cast. But don’t tell them I said that.

What can audiences expect from The Trophy Room?

The Trophy room is a hilarious comedy about marriage, fidelity and money so they can expect a lot of laughs but even more twists. That’s what makes this show super.

How would you describe the local theatre scene? What would you change about it?

I think locally the theatre scene is evolving and growing. Currently theatre remains a hobby, which means you can never take it to a professional level because you will not have the time to do so and it becomes very hard to make a comfortable living from it. That’s the main thing I would like to see change.

What’s next for you?

Next up is ‘Four play Four’ by DNA theatre, between November 6-8 and 13-15 at the Manoel Theatre, for which I am one of the writers and directors.

The Trophy Room will be taking place at the Blue Box Theatre, Msida from October 9 to 18 at 20:00. The rest of the cast includes John Montanaro, Steve Casaletto and Julia Calvert