The ŻiguŻajg international festival for children and young people continues throughout this week and comes to an end on Sunday.
It features a trove of over 150 performances and workshops at various venues by critically acclaimed international and national companies.
Details are available at www.ziguzajg.org. Tickets may be purchased online or from St James Cavalier’s box office (tel. 2122 3200).
The following are a few highlights of the programme.
The Wishing Thread
The Wishing Thread transforms the Valletta cityscape with small groves of children’s wishes and trees indigenous to Malta.
Children will be given the opportunity to weave coloured threads through the groves, with each child making and tying to the trees a wish for a friend or loved one.
Inspired by the Vat Savitri festival in India, The Wishing Thread brings to life the hopes and desires of children in Malta.
Performances: Today and every day until Sunday from 9am to 9pm, at Space C1-C4 St James Cavalier, Castille Square, Freedom Square and St George’s Square. (Suitable for children of all ages. This installation is free of charge and does not require any booking. Project by Manali Jagtap-Nyheim, Jens Bruenslow and Model. Non-verbal)
Pandora’s Box
Pandora’s box has always been synonymous with something that contains deadly sins. Pandora was warned not to ever open it; however, curiosity got the best of her and, once opened, the box unleashed deadly sins which could no longer be contained.
In Moveo’s rendition, Pandora’s box holds people’s deepest secrets and rumours almost like today’s social media phenomenon. Once the lid of the box is open all one’s secrets and rumours are unleashed and beyond control.
Such secrets or rumours extend to people’s family issues, identity, self-image and others.
Once made public, people then react differently: some conform to social norms whereas others try to take control of the situation.
However, just like in the original myth, one main element remains contained in the box – hope; and that is what the protagonists finally refuse to let go of.
Installation is on today from 9am to 9pm at Castille Square (all ages), and Pandora’s Box, the dance performance for children aged 11+, is on tomorrow, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the British Legion, Valletta. Tomorrow and Friday at 5.30pm; Saturday and Sunday at 11am and 5pm respectively. This is a free performance but still subject to booking.