Malala
Based on the book by Malala Yousafzai / Adapted for the stage by Flo Staffelmayr
Monologue / In German / 10+
Synopsis
Malala Yousafzai: one extraordinarily brave young woman. Her story went round the world: on 9th October 2012 this young Pakistani, whilst on her way to school in Swat Valley, was attacked and shot. Malala survived the attack on the school bus and explained shortly afterwards that it would not deter her from standing up for the rights of children and girls in particular. She had good reason to say this: school attendance and literacy in Pakistan are amongst the lowest in the world.
Malala tells us her story in the studio of the State Theatre. How as a normal girl she raised her voice and went about opposing radicalisation, both for herself and for others. She described the anticipation of the first day back at school: the warm-hearted humorous bus driver, her friends and brothers, the buzz of the bazaar and the life her parents led. And yet it was also about meeting the Taliban, the repression in her country and the right to education.
Malala’s story is moving whilst at the same time heartrending. It is one of many and yet she relates to all of us as individuals: straight in the eye. Her story takes us on a journey to a distant part of the world and reveals not just differences, but rather–in fact above all–the discovery of common ground.
The sixteen year-old Malala Yousafzai, who unwaveringly stands for free speech and education, was honoured in 2014 with the Nobel Peace Prize, and is the youngest ever prize-winner of all time.
(Translated from the German by Mike Mackenzie-Smith)
Duration: approx. 50 mins / no intermission
Cast
Reviews
»Die Mozarteum-Studentin […] wechselt mit großem sprachlichen und gestischen Geschick zwischen Titelrolle, Basarverkäufer und etlichen anderen Protagonisten, die in der Erzählung von Malala vorkommen. […] Die Inszenierung von Hausregisseurin Astrid Großgasteiger ist ein brisanter Beitrag dazu, wie man der Angst vor dem Fremden Abhilfe schaffen könnte. In beiden Welten.«
»Schon mit den ersten Sätzen gelingt es Anna Rieser als Malala, das Publikum für sich zu gewinnen. Voll Begeisterung schildert sie die Schönheiten ihrer Heimat und entführt uns in eine fremde Welt. Dabei schlüpft sie immer wieder auch in andere Rollen.«