Following the success attained in their past two passion productions, this year Carpe Diem Productions are presenting an even bigger and bolder interactive street theatre Passion production entitled In-Nażri.
Written by Cleavon Vella and directed by veteran actor and director Mario Micallef, In-Nażri is being held in collaboration with the Mdina Local Council under the auspices of President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.
The Silent City will be transformed into the old-walled city of Jerusalem. In-Nażri will be staged at different venues and palaces in Mdina, while the audience will not just assist but also accompany the actors throughout the play.
Among other sites, the production team will make use of the De Redin bastions, just behind the Cathedral.
The main actors include Francesco Agius Risiott who will interpret Jesus Christ, together with Veronica Farrugia as Mary, Wayne Sammut as John and Ivan Debattista as Caiphas.
In-Nażri is being held tomorrow at 8pm in collaboration with the Mdina Local Council, and sponsored by Meli Garage and Ta’ Dernis Properties, and with the assistance of the Cathedral’s Chapter, the Cathedral Museum and Heritage Malta. During the event donations will be collected in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund.
Polyphonic choral music
Cappella Sanctae Catharinae is presenting the Requiem Mass of Orlande de Lassus. The concert features a cappella polyphonic choral music appropriate for this time of year.
Lassus’s Missa Pro Defunctis for four voices was written in 1578 and is possibly one of the last Requiem Masses to use a pre-Tridentine setting, as is attested by the use of the unusual gradual Si Ambulem.
The work will be interspersed with other short polyphonic pieces from the 16th century that complement this choral masterpiece.
The venue for this concert is St Mark’s church in Rabat, which was designed by Girolamo Cassar and is considered a prototype for the Order’s Conventual Church of St John in Valletta.
The priory, situated alongside the church, was designed by Andrea Belli and is considered a baroque architectural gem.
The concert will help to raise funds for the restoration of a set of 19th-carved gilt statues of the Apostles. These statues, which were commissioned to adorn the main altar on high feasts, were made by famed artist Carlo Darmanin in 1894.
The concert at St Mark’s church in Rabat is being held today at 7.30pm. Entrance is free but there will be a retiring collection in aid of the restoration project currently under way at the church.
Pageant at Dingli
The village of Dingli is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Holy Week Pageant with L-Għotja along the streets of Dingli.
The play was written by Sebastian Aquilina and will be directed by Diego Attard. Accompanying the pageant will be the Dingli Girl Guides and Scouts and the St Mary Band under the direction of Richard Bugeja.
The pageant will take place along the main streets of Dingli today at 5.30pm with a representation of the Passion of Christ at Dingli Primary School soon afterwards. A second representation will be held tomorrow at 2pm.
Passion play at Senglea
The Senglea Drama Group is presenting a traditional Passion play titled Iesus with the participation of 50 actors.
The play will be staged at Sede Azzjoni Kattolika, 72, Victory Street, Senglea, today and tomorrow at 7.30pm. For more information, visit www.sengleadramagroup.com or call 7944 9812 or 9920 8015, between 6 and 8.30pm.