Farewell production

BUDDING actress Palmyra Mattner will be performing in the Manama Theatre Club’s production of Be My Baby next week … her final show in Bahrain before she takes her place at a prestigious acting school in New York.

Palmyra, 18, from Barbar, has landed a coveted place at the Stella Adler Acting Studio in the US, which boasts a plethora of famous former pupils including Hollywood heavyweights Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, Benicio Del Toro and Salma Hayek.

Palmyra said: “I have been to New York once before and stayed there only three days, so it’s daunting, of course, but above all, I am so excited to start training, meet new people and begin a new chapter of my life.

“To be honest it’s not about going somewhere with famous alumni, but more of what you make of the experience. It’s not fame I am after, I’d rather be respected and recognised for my skills as an actor by being versatile and up to any role. I want to earn an independent, comfortable living where I can continue doing what I enjoy.”

Palmyra’s parents are Salma Jabri, a language teacher at Berlitz and Joerg Mattner, a geologist, both 55.  She has two brothers, Kerst, 22, Hashem, 31, and a sister, Syrine, 32.

The half German-half Syrian St Christopher’s School pupil says her parents are proud of her accomplishments and very supportive. However, she has taken her inspiration to succeed from her grandmother, also a keen actress.

“My Syrian grandmother was offered a scholarship in New York but had to decline because of family circumstances,” explained Palmyra. “I know she will always support and believe in me, so as much as I do it to make myself happy, I know how happy it makes her too.”

Palmyra was bitten by the acting bug at an early age and says that performing brings people together, whether they can understand each other or not.

“The first performance (apart from school plays) I can remember doing was a dance when I was about five at Club Med in France. I was the only non-French speaker (thanks to my parents), and the only way I could communicate was by miming. On stage though, I could not stop smiling and I think that feeling of elation is what inspired me,” she said.

As for her final show in Bahrain, Palmyra will play pregnant teenager Mary Adams.

“Out of the St. Saviour’s bunch, she sticks out as being one of the naïve ones, who throughout the course of the play becomes more aware of her position and the harsh realities of becoming a teenage mother.

“I have prepared for the role by listening to lots of 1960s music, having The Ronettes on repeat in the car, of course, and also by writing diary entries as my character.”

The humble young performer has credited the Manama Theatre Club and its chairman, Rory Adamson, with playing a vital role in her success.

She said: “Rory and the Manama Theatre Club have helped me so much through my final years in Bahrain and I am so grateful to be in one last production with them. Since Fawlty Towers, my level of confidence, skills and overall experiences would not have been accomplished without them.

“I’ve met lots of wonderful people and it has been so much fun rehearsing with all the women for the last time. I will miss all of them and won’t forget them, but will hopefully see them in New York sometime soon.”

Mr Adamson said: “It has been a real privilege to have had the opportunity to direct someone as talented as Palmyra and we will all miss the passion and energy that she has brought to all of her roles over the last few years.

“Be My Baby is Palmyra’s last performance in Bahrain before she goes off to drama school and we are staging the play very much as her swansong.

“We wish her the best of luck in New York and look forward to seeing her on the big screen soon!”

Be My Baby, a play by Amanda Whittington, will open at the British Club on Monday and run through to Thursday, June 27.

The show stars Palmyra, Hannah Lynch, Hayley Furness and Jenny Cairns as the four young ladies with Rosemary Lee stepping in as the mother of one of the girls and Julia Doorne playing the role of the home’s matron. 

Tickets priced BD5 for members and BD7 for non-members are available at the club and The Great Deli Café, Najibi Centre, Saar. The curtain goes up at 8pm.