Grand Harbour Marina, Birgu 12-13-14 July 2012 
Duration 50 minutes

Old Salt was initially devised as an open-air theatrical work. The performance explores the historical significance of Malta’s Grand Harbour and presents multiple perspectives on how life and love was experienced by women partnered to corsairs and captains in the 18th and 19th centuries. 


Based on factual events and historical figures, Old Salt presents the lives of four women, each of whom is burdened by a personal and potentially tragic love story. As they wait by the shores of the Grand Harbour, their relationships are developed and secrets are shared. Events unfold to reveal a surreal and lonely universe wherein these four women discover real and imaginary beasts that can emerge from the sea’s dark waters. The performance features rich multi-media content as tales are recounted through mime, poetry, and drama with the involvement of masks, illustrations, giant moving beasts, and the sound of stringed music performed by a live quartet from a sculpted shipwreck berthed on land. 

photo Rubberbodies

“Old Salt was one of the best performances at the Malta Arts Festival this year. It was as entertaining as its message was powerful and showcased exactly what the Arts Festival should be all about.” 

Sea of Expressive Art – The Times, Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Credits:

Director
Jimmy Grima

Rebecca Camilleri AS THE BLUE LADY
Ira Melkonyan AS THE BLACK LADY
Ada Wendy Moira AS THE WHITE LADY
Maria Pia Meli AS  THE RED LADY
Anthony Askew AS  THE PRINCE AZUL
Jimmy Grima  AS THE MESSENGER
Manuel Cauchi AS THE OLD SALT

Ana Topalovic on Cello
Rahia Awalom on Cello
Lucie Kucharova on Cello
Roberta Attard on Violin

Sound Design & Composition
Mario Sammut

Designer and Maker
Matthew Pandolfino

Visiting Sculptor
Matthew Micallef

Illustrator
Anthony Askew

CREW
Nigel Baldacchino
Martina Buhagiar 
Kristen Buhagiar 
Maria Schembri
Simon Sultana Harkins

Historical Research
Liam Gauci

Creative Writer
Dr Arndt Kremer

Visiting Dramaturg
Lou Cope

LIGHTS & SOUND
TRANSIENT LIGHTS

DESIGN & LAYOUT 
TINYISLANDSTUDIO

PROGAMME ILLUSTRATIONS
MATTHEW PANDOLFINO

PRODUCTION MANAGER
Nicole Blackman 

Supported by:
Grand Harbour Marina
Austrian Embassy
Birgu Local Council

thanks to:
Mark Dingli
Mario Pandolfino 
John Buxoll
Mr. Kevin Sciberras - Regional Cultural Coordinator at Ministry for Gozo
Ms. Joyce Dimech – Director Customer Services, Ministry for Gozo (ITS Gozo)
Mr. Joseph Attard, Head of School, Gozo Centre for Art & Crafts.  

Commission of Malta Arts Festival 2012