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Manuel Cauchi’s theatre credits run like a veritable ABC of theatre and include: Henry Hackamore in ‘Seduced,’ Arthur Christie in ‘Who Killed ‘Agatha Christie?’, Priuli in ‘The Life of Galileo’, Antony in ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ , Benedick in ‘Much ado about Nothing’, Touchstone in ‘As you like it’, the title role in ‘Macbeth’, King Claudius in ‘Hamlet’, Jason in ‘Medea’, Trofimov in ‘The Cherry Orchard’, Henry VIII in ‘Anne of the Thousand Days’, Thomas Becket in ‘Becket’, Arthur Kipps in ‘The Woman in Black’, Teiresias in ‘Oedipus Rex’, The Writer in ‘The Good Doctor’, Rubin Flood in ‘The Dark at the top of the Stairs’, Laurent in ‘Therese Raquin’, Ferdinand Clegg in ‘The Collector’, Theo in ‘The Flip Side’ David Kutrere in ‘Orpheus Descending’ Doc Porter in ‘Come Back Little Sheba’ Anton Schill in ‘The Visit’ The Chaplain in ‘Mother Courage’ Gilles in ‘Abelard and Eloise’, Dr. Wilhelm Furtwrangler in ‘Taking Sides’, Paul Sheldon in `Misery`, Bernard in ‘Don’t Dress for Dinner’, Duncan in `Gun-Shy`, Jon in ‘Tape’, Philip Gellburg in ‘Broken Glass’, Robert in ‘Proof’, Marc in ‘Art’, the title role in ‘King Lear,’ Mike in ‘The Memory of Water’, Larry in ‘Closer’, The Marquis De Sade in ‘Marat Sade.’ At present he is playing Billy in ‘Five Kinds of Silence’ for Masquerade. The last performance is tonight at St James Cavalier.
What first what inspired you to act, any family
inspiration?
No, no one in the family. When I enrolled at the drama school my real interest was stage design. This was MTADA in 1977. No such courses were available at the time, but the then head of the Academy, Mr Adrian Rendle suggested I give acting a try. I kind of liked it. After MTADA, I then moved to Italy to study theatre - at the Piccolo Teatro di Milano and - well here I am.
Do you get the chance to see theatre abroad? If so what do you look for?
Yes – as much as I can! Weeks before I would browse the internet to see what’s on in the theatre scene and wherever possible book online before I leave Malta. Of course I fit in as many plays as time and my pocket allows. What type? Mainly straight plays but once in a while I might fit in a musical.
Are there actors (Maltese or worldwide) you admire?
Quite a few - not easy to pick out one name. But I admit - if Anthony Hopkins is in some production wherever I may be - I’ll make it a point not to miss it.
What would you like to see done to achieve a higher quality theatre and attract more people to the shows in Malta?
Shake off this ‘anything goes’ and ‘anybody can do it’ attitude which undermines the few good things that are happening. Give our audiences their money’s worth. It’s a supply and demand situation - if your supply comes without the right overall commitment and preparation your demand diminishes - right? Unfortunately it takes only one bad production to reflect badly on attendances for the following three. We’ve seen this happening over and over again. Our audiences know what works or doesn’t work and we, who are on the supply side, have to be in tune with that.
Then there is the financial problem. Production costs are always on the increase and yet ticket prices exceeding the price of a pizza and a glass of wine puts people off! Any producer knows what a juggling act it is to make ends meet. Our only support is sponsorship, which is not an easy thing to get.
Of all the roles you have played so far which is your most memorable and why?
That’s a tricky question! The moment one comes to mind another two pop up. But I think it would be the Writer in Neil Simon’s ‘The Good Doctor’ produced by Koperatturi in 1990 - the Writer being Anton Chekhov himself telling his own stories and slipping in and out of his own characters. On the same lines there was Arthur Kipps in the ‘Woman in Black.’
What is acting adding to your life? Could you imagine yourself doing anything different?
I think the ability to question and doubt everything and everybody. Just as when you are building a role you start dissecting layer after layer trying to get to what makes a particular character tick - so you do in real life. It’s amazing what a load of unnecessary layers each one of us carries around all the time.
Can I imagine doing something else? No not really
Your current play is ‘Five Kinds of Silence,’ can you tell me something about your role?
Five Kinds of Silence is a very strong play. I play Billy the so-called sick degenerate father who emotionally and physically abuses his wife and two daughters. On the surface one thinks - yeah he got what he deserves - but delving deeper one finds that his behaviour is really the result of many factors. Throughout the play we get a glimpse of his violent childhood, we are shown how religion condones the idea of suffering and pain and on top of this the complicity of both his wife and children accepting it in silence. It is not just a state of perpetrator and victims, but all including society carry the blame.
You have also been acting in a Belgian soap….what can you tell us of that experience?
The series is called ‘Familie.’ It’s a daily soap broadcast on Belgian National TV and now has been running for twelve years - the longest running soap after Coronation Street. I got involved about eight years ago when I was asked to play the part of Joe Bonduono the manager of a subsidiary electronics company based in Malta. The mother company in Belgium is run by this family - hence the name - with all the intricacies and problems of relationships, power games, and a whole list of other ingredients which has kept this series running for so long with top viewership ratings. At present we are shooting the 2800 episode - a wedding which takes place in the beautiful surroundings of St. Anne’s Chapel in Fort St.Angelo amongst other things. Can’t tell you much plot wise, because there are quite a few surprises which have to be kept under wraps.
Do you prefer TV/film work to theatre? If so why?
No, I am a theatre man. Nothing else gives you that magic thrill of a live audience with whom you can relate directly and there and then control the creative process. Working for a camera lens is a completely different process. You do it - but someone else is controlling it. Ok, on film you have retakes if things go wrong. You don’t have that in theatre maybe that’s why it is so exciting. Your mind knows and has to be geared for that one unique moment that has to be one hundred percent right or else lost forever. On the other hand the camera has its advantages which the theatre may not give. One look, one twitch of an eyebrow or facial expression can talk volumes in silence.
Did you ever have to prepare for a role in ways that affected your physical appearance or your mental state? Can you tell us something about those experiences?
My wife claims that I take home every role I play all the time. Now the problem is I have played quite a few villains and baddies! So I suppose that answers your question and also reflects things at home!
What are your future plans?
After a well earned rest over the summer months – it will be playing Trigorin in The Seagull by Anton Chekhov. After that ? – many other exciting roles - I hope.
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