Maltese Playwright Bettina Paris Takes *Sisyphean Quick Fix* to London

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Maltese playwright Bettina Paris’s first full-length play, *Sisyphean Quick Fix*, will run at Riverside Studios in London from March 18 to April 6, exploring addiction and its impact on migrants. After a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the play is poised to reach a broader audience and promote social change, in collaboration with relevant organisations.

Maltese playwright Bettina Paris is bringing her first full-length play, Sisyphean Quick Fix, to London’s Riverside Studios, running from March 18 to April 6. The drama-comedy explores substance misuse, migration, and family dynamics, focusing on the emotional challenges of caring for a loved one with addiction. Additionally, it sheds light on the difficulties migrants face while grappling with personal issues back home.

Directed by Nicky Allpress, the play centres on two Maltese sisters: Krista, residing in London, and Pip, in Malta, as they navigate their father’s alcohol struggles. Paris considers staging a Maltese story with Maltese actors in the UK particularly meaningful, drawing on her own experiences living in the UK for eight years, where she encountered the challenges of sharing a Maltese narrative.

Sisyphean Quick Fix gained recognition at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it was highlighted among 3,317 performances, prompting an invitation to stage it in London. Theatre Weekly praised it as the festival’s standout play. Paris expressed her excitement about expanding the play’s reach and acknowledging the support from her team.

Riverside Studios, a well-established cultural venue in Hammersmith, has a rich history as a creative space, originally a Victorian ironworks. Following redevelopment, it reopened in 2019, now encompassing various arts and media activities, offering a larger audience capacity than the Edinburgh venue.

In order to raise awareness about addiction’s familial impact, Paris collaborated with organisations addressing these issues, having previously partnered with Aġenzija Sedqa in Malta and Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs during the Fringe. For the London performances, they will work alongside Alcohol Change UK. Paris noted the play’s dual role as both an entertaining production and a catalyst for social change.

Tickets for Sisyphean Quick Fix can be purchased through the Riverside Studios website.

Bettina Paris is a Maltese playwright who has made her mark by capturing essential social issues within her work. *Sisyphean Quick Fix* highlights the struggles of families dealing with addiction while also portraying the unique struggles faced by migrants. The play’s reception at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival has significantly contributed to its upcoming London run, demonstrating the enduring relevance of its themes.

Bettina Paris’s *Sisyphean Quick Fix* marks a significant milestone in her career, transitioning from Malta to the prestigious Riverside Studios in London. The play’s exploration of addiction and migration resonates across cultures, while its collaborations with relevant organisations emphasise the importance of social change. Its success at the Edinburgh Fringe has paved the way for a larger audience, reinforcing the narrative’s relevance.

Original Source: timesofmalta.com