HKYAF re-runs Matilda!

Inspired by Roald Dahl’s beloved classic children’s book, YAF opens the new year with rehearsals for an original theatre performance, Matilda. First adapted for the stage and directed by HKYAF’s Lindsey McAlister 14 years ago, rehearsals for its third re-run begins today! Performances take place this April – sign up to YAF’s mailing list to be the first to hear about booking details.

Matilda was first performed in 1999, and the cast also brought the show abroad to Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The story of Matilda follows a bright young booklover who dreams of a better life. Disregarded and belittled by her dimwitted parents and the outrageous and wicked school headmistress Miss Trunchbull, Matilda ultimately takes a stand against unjust forces and grasps her destiny in her own tiny, but powerful, hands.

We speak to Director Lindsey McAlister, just before the first rehearsal…

由羅爾德‧達爾寫的經典兒童讀物所啓發,《瑪嬌達》是YAF本年首部戲劇製作。原來YAF導演麥蓮茜女士早於十四年前已將《瑪嬌達》的故事書改編成為劇本，而今次將是劇作的第三次重演!

《瑪嬌達》在1999年首演，及後演員們更把製作帶到愛丁堡公演。故事主人翁瑪嬌達是個開朗的小女孩，經常沉醉在她的故事書中。她被愚蠢的父母輕視及拋棄，還遇上蠻橫又邪惡的校長。瑪嬌達嚮往更美好的生活，敢於向不公義的勢力反抗，以她的小手掌握自己的命運。在第一天的綵排前，我們訪問了導演麥蓮茜女士…

You met Roald Dahl’s wife, Felicity Dahl, in creating “Matilda”. What was that experience like? 因著創作《瑪嬌達》，你結識了作者羅爾德•達爾的妻子—芙莉希蒂•達爾。可否詳述當時情形嗎

Lindsey: Liccy Dahl was a lovely warm enthusiastic lady. She came to Edinburgh to join me and the cast for the day and to see the show…which she loved! She was very generous with her praise and time.

芙莉希蒂•達爾是一位熱情親切的女士。當時她跟隨了我和一班演員到愛丁堡一起欣賞《瑪嬌達》…並非常喜愛此劇! 她十分慷慨, 不但付出了時間，還對演出讚口不絕呢!

Photos above: Felicity Dahl – Roald Dahl’s wife (centre) and the HKYAF cast of MATILDA from 14 years ago.
以上相片:作者羅爾德•達爾的妻子—芙莉希蒂•達爾(中間)與十四年前演《瑪嬌達》的YAF演員

We understand that you adapted Matilda from the book 14 years ago, even before the current musical. What triggered you to do so in the first place? 據我們理解、您十四年前己經將《瑪嬌達》由故事書改編成為劇本; 比現時的音樂劇製作更為要早; 是什麽令你會有這個想法?

Lindsey: I read Matilda to my son Sam when he was little and we loved it! I also knew that many of the schools encouraged students to read the book and I thought it was a great opportunity to bring the book to life. I think the story of Matilda resonates with many young people as bullying (sad to say) is prevalent in schools and so at some time or another you are probably going to experience it firsthand or through a friend. I loved the way Roald Dahl empowered Matilda by giving her magical powers which enabled her to beat the biggest bully of them all Miss Trunchbull!

在兒子Sam年少時，我讀過《瑪嬌達》這個故事給他聽，並愛上了這個故事。我知道很多學校都會推介這本書給學生，而我相信這是一個良好機會演活這個故事。我認為許多年青人都能夠與《瑪嬌達》這個故事產生共嗚，因為欺凌(很不幸地說) 是十分普遍在校園裡。你很可能從自己或別人的經驗有著切身的感受。我很喜歡作者羅爾德•達爾將魔法賜予瑪嬌達，使她擊敗最大的惡霸, Trunchbull老師!

Photos above: The second HKYAF cast of Matilda in Edinburgh
以上相片:十四年前在愛丁堡演《瑪嬌達》的YAF演員

What made you revisit this production again 14 years later? 十四年後, 你為什麼又會重演《瑪嬌達》呢?

Lindsey: I loved this show, I loved the fact that the cast has a lot of room to devise and interpret the material. There is a script to follow but within those parameters there is lots of room for creativity and exploration. The style of performance is physical theatre and so the cast is very much an ensemble not only creating their own unique characters, they also transform into props and set! It’s a wonderfully imaginative way of working, I am very excited about the opportunity of having such a young cast, the youngest is 8…they are going to learn a lot from the experience!!

首先，我很喜歡這個劇，因為演員在劇裡有很大的發揮和演繹的空間。雖然劇本已定，但在這些特定的範圍裡還是有很多探索的機會和發揮創意的空間。今次的表演風格是形體劇場, 演員不僅要創造自己獨特的角色，更會變身成為道具和佈景，創作出一場戲劇合奏! 這是一種充滿奇妙想像力的創作方式; 而我很興奮有這個機會與一班非常年輕的演員合作—年紀最小的演員只得八歲—從這個經驗他們將會獲益良多!

What are your inspirations for this production? 此製作的靈感來自什麼呢?

Lindsey: I am inspired by the people I work with as much as the content of the piece, it’s been a while since I have created an entire show where the majority of the cast are primary school aged children. Part of the process will be to train them in theatre arts and almost half of the rehearsal each week will be skill building and workshopping different theatre techniques and styles so that the young performers come out with more knowledge about theatre…I am inspired to be passing on what I have learnt!

我的靈感來自於故事本身之餘，也來自於一些合作無間的人群。我很久沒有創作一個欲以小學生參與為主的完整製作。排練其中一個重要部分是戲劇訓練, 幾乎一半的排練時間會專注於訓練他們不同戲劇技巧、風格和能力，讓這群年輕的演員能夠增加他們對戲劇的認識! 在傳授我的學識和經驗的同時，我亦有所啓發。

Do you foresee any opportunities and challenges? 你預期會有甚麽機遇和挑戰嗎?

Lindsey: Actually the opportunities and challenges are similar and also relate to the age of the cast and their levels of experience…being younger they come to the project without expectations and so they will need to be taught a lot but they should be open to trying new things, hopefully!

We are going to be creating the piece for a black box/ studio theatre type of performance and I always see that as an opportunity as the cast will be up close and personal with the audience so they need to be self-confident and very well prepared…which they will be!

This is a wonderful learning experience for them, I am excited to see how they grow as young performers!!

其實機遇和挑戰都視乎演員的年紀和經驗…年紀較小的演員未必有什麼期望，所以需要多指導他們，希望他們勇於嘗試吧

! 我們的製作是為黑盒/戲劇室而設，是一個好機會讓演員近距離接觸觀眾，所以演員們一定要有自信和充分的準備，而我相信他們能勝任的!

這是一個良好的學習機會，我很期望他們成長為年輕演員!!