Maltese writer and composer Angele Galea has described the reception to The Trials of Magnus Coffinkey at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as a “very thrilling experience”, as the home-grown production earns a string of positive reviews during its run in Scotland.

“This is a very thrilling experience, having your work being appreciated and understood,” Ms Galea tells WhosWho.mt.

Angele Galea photographed by Justin Mamo / Facebook 

“Our play was written to help people navigate through grief and loss, and we have had many who have approached us to let us know that it has.”

Created by Give or Take Productions, The Trials of Magnus Coffinkey is the work of married Maltese creative duo Angele and Malcolm Galea, who co-wrote the production. Ms Galea also composed its original music.

The play is currently running at Summerhall as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where thousands of productions from across the world compete for audiences and critical attention throughout August.

“In Edinburgh there are almost 4,000 performances playing in August coming from all over the world, and we are here amongst them, all competing for an audience,” Ms Galea said.

“It feels like a magnificent hub of culture, very vibrant and it is gloriously difficult to keep up. So far, bookings and reception have been really encouraging, as we gear for the final week.”

The production has received a number of four- and five-star reviews during its Edinburgh run, something Ms Galea said the team is grateful for.

Malcolm Galea photographed by Justin Mamo / Facebook 

Her husband and co-writer Malcolm Galea similarly celebrated the response on social media, writing: “Getting a 5-star review at Summerhall is a dream come true. Getting multiple by day 7 of the Fringe Festival is a dream come truer.”

Described as “a broken fairy tale for broken people”, The Trials of Magnus Coffinkey uses the framework of a dark fairytale to explore grief, loss, guilt and hope.

The story follows the lonely Magnus Coffinkey, played by Joseph Zammit, who lives in a land of broken toys and is tasked with repairing the bell at the top of a church tower. His journey gradually takes the audience away from the apparent fairytale and into a much more human story about profound loss.

Becky Camilleri plays a number of characters alongside Mr Zammit, including a nameless spirit encountered by Magnus between life and death.

Its Edinburgh success follows previous runs in Valletta in 2023 and at the Brighton Fringe in 2024 and 2025. The production won the Outstanding Theatre Award at the Brighton Fringe in 2024.

The High Commission of Malta to the United Kingdom has also highlighted the production's Edinburgh run, describing it as an example of the “creativity, storytelling, and excellence emerging from Malta”.

Five-star reviews for Maltese cast and crew

Among the production's strongest reviews has been a five-star assessment by PlaysToSee, which praised the way the seemingly simple fairytale gradually develops into “a profound meditation on unimaginable grief”.

The review singled out both performers, describing Mr Zammit's portrayal of Magnus as physical and intense while praising Ms Camilleri's ability to move between the story's various characters and its more emotionally demanding moments.

It also highlighted the production's stripped-back staging, which uses little more than a large toy box, leaves, costume changes, lighting and sound to create its shifting worlds.

The British Theatre Guide has similarly praised the production, describing it as a work that “may well break your heart”, while highlighting the hope that ultimately emerges from the story.

The Trials of Magnus Coffinkey runs at Summerhall's Red Lecture Theatre until 31st August, excluding 24th August.