Breaking Silence: A Tale of Strength and Justice
I had the pleasure of working with Kim Dalli, a well-known and talented local actress, as well as a passionate artist and playwright. She has taken on the monumental task of translating and adapting the story of Artemisia Gentileschifor a contemporary audience. When Kim shared Artemisia’s story with me, I was captivated. The play will be performed in October in Valletta, and I’m so looking forward to seeing this powerful narrative come alive.
I asked Kim some questions about Naħliflek, and here is the interview:
- What inspired you to translate and adapt the story of Artemisia Gentileschi for a contemporary audience?
I first encountered the acclaimed play It’s True, It’s True, It’s True by Breach Theatre in 2019, and later had the opportunity to watch it online during the Covid period. I was transfixed. By then, I had long been fascinated by Artemisia’s work. There is a rawness and intensity in her paintings – an uncompromising honesty and beauty in the way she renders her subjects – that to me sets her apart from many of her contemporaries. Her brushstrokes seem to collapse the distance between the 17th century and our own time, offering an immediacy that feels strikingly modern.
What deepened my admiration further was learning about her biography: the rape she suffered at the hands of her tutor, Agostino Tassi, when she was just 15, and the subsequent trial that laid bare the systemic injustices of her time. Yet what defines Artemisia is not victimhood, but resilience. She transformed personal trauma into artistic expression, carving out a career that made her one of the most accomplished painters of the Baroque era.
Her story is not only one of artistic genius but also of survival, agency, and the challenge of navigating structures that often limited women’s opportunities – a struggle that still resonates today. To translate and adapt her story for a contemporary audience in Malta felt necessary – not only to honour her legacy but also to invite reflection on how art, gender, and power intersect across time.
- How do you think the themes of sexual assault and revenge resonate with today’s society?
It is chilling how relevant these themes remain today. More than four centuries have passed since Artemisia’s trial, yet we continue to be confronted with headlines reporting horrific instances of sexual assault, cutting across class, culture, and geography. The persistence of victim blaming is particularly striking — the same mechanisms of doubt, shaming, and discrediting that Artemisia endured are still at play in contemporary discourse.
What has changed, perhaps, is the medium. In the 17th century, reputations could be destroyed by rumour and hearsay; today, that process is accelerated and amplified by social media, where trial by public opinion often precedes any formal judgment. In that sense, Artemisia’s story does not feel like distant history, but rather a mirror held up to ongoing societal struggles with gender, power, and justice.
- In what ways does the play challenge or reflect the societal norms of both the 17th century and the present day?
The play holds up a double lens: it reflects the brutal realities of 17th century Italian society while simultaneously challenging us to consider how much has – or has not – changed today. In Artemisia’s time, patriarchal structures were entrenched; women were often denied autonomy, and even in a courtroom their credibility was questioned and subjected to invasive scrutiny.
While the script does take artistic liberties, large portions are taken verbatim from the original court transcripts, preserved at the Archivio di Stato in Rome. What comes through is Artemisia’s remarkable composure, especially considering she was only 17 when testifying. Her voice is proud, unflinching, and powerful. That same strength is evident in her later life as an artist, where she refused to haggle over the prices of her paintings — fully aware of her worth in a world that often undervalued women.
For a contemporary audience, these moments resonate strongly. They remind us that reputations can still be questioned or undermined, but they also highlight Artemisia’s resilience and conviction — qualities that continue to inspire across centuries. Her pursuit of justice and her determination to build a career in an overwhelmingly male domain were radical acts in her own time. Seen through a modern lens, they serve as a powerful reminder of the courage required to push against entrenched norms — something that remains as relevant today as it was 400 years ago.
- What do you hope audiences will take away from the portrayal of Artemisia’s journey in “Naħliflek”?
What I hope audiences take away, first and foremost, is empathy – the willingness to suspend judgement and to step into another person’s experience. Artemisia’s trial, preserved in the transcripts, reminds us how easily society can be swift to doubt or condemn. That tendency has not disappeared, and theatre provides a space to reflect on it in a more human, immediate way.
Equally significant is a form of resilience that transcends trauma. Artemisia’s life shows that personal adversity does not have to determine one’s future. Rather than being defined by the assault she suffered, she went on to build a career of remarkable stature, securing her place among the most acclaimed painters of the Baroque era. What stands out is not only her resilience, but the extraordinary talent through which she asserted herself — establishing her reputation, securing commissions, and ensuring her work was valued on her own terms. It is ultimately her artistic brilliance that continues to captivate scholars and audiences alike.
If Naħliflek can offer even a small message of hope to those facing difficult circumstances — a reminder that you are not defined by what has happened to you, and that strength and possibility lie beyond it — then I feel that the play would have done its work.
Watch the trailer on Instagram:
https://instagram.com/p/DOte7wAjZUv
Naħliflek will be performed on 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, and 26 October 2025 at the historic Our Lady of the Pillar Church in Valletta.
The play is in Maltese, with English surtitles available for the performances on Sunday 19 October and Friday 24 October.
Get Your tickets at: https://www.showshappening.com/danielazzopardi/nahliflek
It’s clear that the story of Artemisia Gentileschi is not just a historical account but a resonant narrative that speaks to the struggles and triumphs of women throughout the ages. The adaptation of her journey in Naħliflek is as a powerful reminder of resilience, empathy, and the enduring fight for justice. We hope that audiences will leave the theatre not only with a deeper understanding of Artemisia’s life but also inspired to reflect on their own experiences and the societal norms that shape them.
Thank you, Kim, for sharing your insights and passion for this important work.
The tickets are selling fast 🤩🫶 so hurry up and get yours. 😍
Amanda