The Ottoman Turk in Maltese theatre and drama : a discussion of the role of stereotypes in the theatre of a small nation

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss how the theatre of a community aspiring to nationhood and autonomy from British colonial rule used stereotypes inherited from popular history and nationalist discourse to create drama that contributed to shaping a national identity. The article will also discuss how these stereotypes were retained within the Maltese performative culture beyond the political realities that ushered them in. To do this, the article analyses the references to Ottoman Turks in Maltese theatre from the 19th century to the contemporary period. Most of these instances revolve around the Siege of Malta of 1565 by the Ottoman army, which is considered a moment of great importance in the history of the country. In these works, as in Maltese culture in general, the Turk is seen as the nemesis of the Maltese and represents everything they are not. The article contextualises the different recorded performances in the historical moment they speak of, but also in the historical moment they were enacted. The discussion is framed around colonialism as a historical period and as a theoretical concept which informed the Maltese national identity.