There is always something comforting about listening to a fairytale unfold. At Summerhall, The Trials of Magnus Coffinkey does more than soothe a restless mind. Through a whimsically dark fable, it explores grief, loss and the healing power of storytelling.
Written by Malcolm Galea and Angele Galea, the play transports us to a land of broken toys, towering spires and lingering shadows. Here we meet the titular Magnus Coffinkey, a humble village bell maker who climbs a tower late at night to repair a magical bell. Succeed, and he will be granted his heart’s deepest desire: true love. Fail, and his heart will remain broken forever.
When a mischievous gargoyle distracts him, Magnus falls from the tower and is crushed beneath the very bell he is trying to mend. Finding himself trapped in The Gloom, suspended between life and death, he discovers that only by completing three extraordinary trials can he hope to return to the world of the living and claim his wish.
Joseph Zammit portrays Magnus with warmth and sincerity. There is an inherent goodness to the character, reflected in every gesture and in his well-worn, patched hat, suggesting that wealth might have been a more practical wish than romance. Zammit’s performance is immensely likeable, ensuring we remain invested in Magnus’s increasingly daunting journey.
Rebecca Camilleri takes on a variety of roles, moving effortlessly between the mischievous gargoyle, eccentric villagers and Harmony, Magnus’s spiritual guide. Her character work is precise and engaging, creating a richly populated world despite the production’s intimate scale.
Yet The Trials of Magnus Coffinkey is not content to remain solely within its fantasy setting. Gradually, the fairytale reveals a deeper truth. Running alongside Magnus’s quest is the story of a writer struggling to complete the tale while grappling with an unimaginable personal loss. What initially appears to be a whimsical adventure becomes something far more profound: an exploration of grief and the ways stories can help us navigate experiences that defy language.
The production handles its themes of pregnancy and child loss with remarkable sensitivity. Rather than confronting the audience directly with its tragedy, it allows meaning to emerge through metaphor and imagination. In doing so, the play captures the disorientating nature of grief while never losing sight of hope.
The performances are compelling throughout, balancing humour, heartbreak and tenderness with impressive nuance. As the emotional layers gradually unfold, both actors ensure the story resonates far beyond its fairytale framework. Magnus’s trials become a reflection of the extraordinary lengths people will go to for love, particularly when that love is for a life that never had the chance to be lived.
Lighting and sound design play a crucial role in guiding the audience between the magical and the painfully real. Subtle shifts in atmosphere transport us from enchanted landscapes to moments of raw emotional clarity. Meanwhile, a simple collection of props drawn from a toy box proves more than sufficient to conjure this vividly imagined world.
Deeply moving and thoughtfully crafted, The Trials of Magnus Coffinkey is a triumph of storytelling. What begins as an enchanting fairytale evolves into an affecting meditation on loss, memory and healing, reminding us that stories can sometimes express what words alone cannot.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
