Of valets or clowns? The adaptation process of Molière’s Don Juan for young people

Abstract

This article describes and reflects on the process of adapting and translating a classic theatre text, Don Juan by Molière, into a twenty minute performance in Maltese to be performed by a class of eleven-year-old students. Each year, six schools are chosen to take part in the Trikki Trakki youth theatre festival. Students experience a process of theatre-making under the direction of a professional theatre-maker and a team of mentors who lead workshops about all aspects of theatre. Trikki Trakki is a low budget festival, with quick changes between the six performances so there is an emphasis on minimal set, props and costumes using creative sustainable methods. The children who opt to take part do not all know each other and, for some of the students, this might be their first ever experience on stage. The workshops are designed in such a way as to find out about the students’ strengths and potential as well as create a cohesive group as soon as possible. Students were introduced to Molière’s works, their favourite play was selected, the play was explored through workshops and eventually adapted for the final performance using clowning as the acting genre. The pedagogy and process used for this Don Juan production was intended to give the students an experience and an understanding of theatre-making rather than packaged knowledge as a commodity to be learnt and attained. The workshops activities were informed by theatre practitioners mainly Jonothan Neelands and also Jon Davison.