Blanket Ban

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Production photos by Ali Wright

Set and Costume Design for New Writing | Southwark Playhouse (Little)

Directed by Sam Edmunds, Vikesh Godhwani
Written by Davinia Hamilton, Marta Vella
Lighting Design by Holly Ellis
Video Design by Tom Fitch
Sound Design by Name Withheld
Produced by Natalie Chan for Chalk Line Theatre

Cast: Davinia Hamilton, Marta Vella

A rallying cry on behalf of the women of Malta who have been denied life saving abortions. “Sometimes I’m afraid of this play.”
Malta: Catholic kitsch, golden sun, deep blue sea, Eurovision – and a blanket ban on abortion. Propelled by three years of interviews with anonymous contributors and their own lived experience, actors and activists Marta and Davinia interrogate Malta’s restrictions on the freedom of women. What does it mean for your country to implement trailblazing social justice laws, but have some of the world’s strictest abortion laws?

Production photos by Ali Wright

The following was written for an access performance:
Hello from Sunny Malta!
When you enter the space, you enter as many travellers and refugees have historically entered Malta, welcomed with open arms from the sea surrounding the island.
We have a big expanse of cobalt blue on the floor surrounding a small square yellow ‘island’ in the middle. 

Malta is a Catholic country but some folklore travels deeper. The Evil Eye is a symbol and motif that has become synonymous with the country, as protector on boats, painted on their bows and carried around by most Maltese people- Davinia wears hers as a bracelet. So we have our own giant evil eye grafitti’d on our back wall, both protector and judge. 
In front we have a tall slim screen, this comes to life during the show with projections.
Either side of the screen we have rows of festoon, reminiscent of the famous Maltese Catholic Santa Marija feast day where hundreds of coloured festoon are adorned onto cathedrals and churches.

Colour within both set and costume has been restricted to bold primaries- blue (only blue for costume) yellow & red with white. These colours are heavily used on architecture especially in Malta and of course, the Maltese cross which is red and white.

A white curtain is pulled across during the show to allow for large projection, at moments it also feels clinical and hospital-like.

Best Performance Piece – Shortlisted

Offies 2024

“‘Van Braeckel’s design choices are simple, charming, and incredibly effective – a yellow floor easily becomes the beaches of Malta, or a room where a woman frets over an unwanted pregnancy. Behind the stage, a vertical screen allows for projections, leaning into the framing device of two women giving a presentation about their country.”

Sam Waite, All that Dazzles

“This is theatre birthed out of exasperation, and you leave fired up to fight for women’s rights to their own bodies both locally and further afield”

Anya Ryan, Time Out

“beautiful visual moments (elaborately designed by Isabella Van Braeckel and Holly Ellis) are interwoven throughout, allowing moments of reflection on the very meaty issues discussed. One scene that stands out, in particular, is when Marta is swimming under a projected sea. She dons a blue cape, immersing herself further in the water. The stage blocks underneath support her as she slowly moves her limbs as if moving towards something.”

Emma Dorfman, Always Time for Theatre

“Throughout the play, bright vivid colours are used to depict the sun, the sea and the glamour of Malta, ways in which visitors may envision this beautiful Mediterranean island. […] they still share a deep love for the island’s rich history and the kindness of its locals.”

Xi Ye, Everything Theatre

“The minimal set is well designed; set and costume designer Isabella Van Braeckel has done a fantastic job. The staging consists of a yellow floor to resemble Malta’s beach and various blue boxes which are utilised to great effect during the show, including at one point to double as suitcases! A billowing curtain is set up behind the performers which functions as the screen for the various video projections utilised throughout the piece. A particularly humorous moment involving red clown noses is an especially fun and clever piece of prop design.”

Jo Elliott, Indiependent