The search for peace and the will to crucify Him

Just over 2,000 years ago, one man promised to redeem and grant weak mortals a peaceful and restful life.

In this day and age, many ask whether His words instil hope and optimism. Or is one frustrated and infuriated when faced with the heavy toils of daily life? With or without Him, does not everyone still have to strive very hard in this busy life?

These, and others, are the questions that the manifestation staged at the Gharghur village square on Sunday will attempt to answer as over 60 actors will breathe life into the Good Friday procession by combining theatre with episodes from the life of Jesus Christ.

The Requiem - as the production is called - does not provide answers, but poses a series of questions, which may lead to a personal or communal search for peace within.

The village of Gharghur has been holding the Good Friday procession on Palm Sunday since 1975 and each year a different theme is chosen for the live drama.

This year the focus is on eternal life, particularly on one of the lines found in the libretto of most Requiem Masses - Requiem aeternam dona eis domine (Grant them eternal rest, O Lord).

The production tackles the search for eternal rest or peace of mind in the light of daily struggles to make appointments, and meet deadlines.

The drama has been entrusted to Martin Gauci since the 1980s and he has once again written the script and is directing the production.

In all the theatrical productions presented by Dwal Godda, the emphasis is on the actor and his art providing them with discussions, workshops, and training sessions, so that they can grasp a technique they can in turn develop.

The drama starts with funeral marches on the Gharghur church parvis at 4.30 p.m. The procession leaves the church at 5 p.m. and the actors of Dwal Godda join in as the play starts unfolding through the streets of the village.

When the procession returns to the village square at 8 p.m. and the statues proceed into the church, the actors will breathe life into them and start a discussion on the biblical figures so represented.

The square will be transformed into the hill of Golgotha where Christ was crucified - the actors will incite the public to crucify Him as they do every day of their life.

The promoters do not want the members of the public to remain passive, but encourage them to join in and involve themselves in the play and the procession.

This production, the promoters say, is unique in that no other place in Malta injects drama into the liturgical event which is the traditional Good Friday procession.

People are free to roam about as there are no entrance fees, and they can enter the spirit of Lent by partaking in the drama.

dwalgodda@yahoo.co.uk