Heritage Malta is organising an interactive street-theatre performance of the Passion of Jesus Christ in the landscape between the Neolithic Temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra.

Taking place on Saturday and Sunday, the landscape between Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra will be replacing the streets of Jerusalem and the audience will become part of the drama. During the Neolithic Age, the landscape captivated the island’s inhabitants who chose it as the setting for their rituals.

Starting from Ħaġar Qim Temples, the audience will be guided through the main stages of the Passion of Christ, leading to the Crucifixion. A number of historical and natural spots will serve as backdrops to the scenes and monologues will bring the events to the audience in a realistic and personal manner.

“The way we are presenting the play is intended to make those who attend feel as if they were part of the crowd witnessing the last two days in the life of Jesus prior to his resurrection.

“It is for this reason that we have not made any use of amplification throughout the walk,” commented director Alan Fenech who is also playing Jesus. The cast includes a number of established actors whose faces are familiar to those who follow local theatre and television productions.

Actors include Żep Camilleri, Charles Tedesco (Triccas), Anthony Ellul, Michelle Zerafa, Moira Muscat, Renato, Mario Micallef, Andy Catania, Marco Grech, Sean Buhagiar, Ivan Debattista, Sarah Camilleri, Roberta Briffa, Gabriella Borg and Simone Debattista, Tony Fenech and Alfred Mizzi.

“Having such a cast of actors is a guarantee of a very high quality production. The audience will have the chance to see the artists they admire perform very close to them and this adds to the atmosphere which is already very unique due to the costumes and the setting”, said Mr Fenech.

The number of tickets is limited. Those wishing to attend should purchase their tickets from any one of the museums and sites managed by Heritage Malta.

• More information may be obtained by phone on 2395 4239 between 7.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. or e-mail to: education@heritagemalta.org.

Exhibition

Till April 6
A series of walk-through emotive and devotional exhibitions artistically presented with 30 life-size statues, audiovisual effects and informative commentaries (in English and Maltese) that turn the visit into an educational/cultural/religious experience. This year a new section is being added showing a short film of the 1928 Good Friday procession in Żebbuġ.

Showing at the St Philip Band Club, 12, St Philip Square, Żebbuġ. Opening hours: 10 a.m. till noon and 6 till 10 p.m. (till 11 p.m. on Maundy Thursday). On Good Friday the exhibition will be open from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. and from 4 till 10 p.m. Special arrangements can be made for groups by calling 9983 8806.

Till April 6
An exhibition of statuettes by Alfred Camilleri Cauchi, organised by the religious commission of the King’s Own Philharmonic Society together with Pio Borg is showing at the King’s Own Philharmonic Society, Republic Street, Valletta. Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 5 till 8 p.m. On Saturday, Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday from 9.30 a.m. till noon.

Till April 6
The Good Friday committee within the parish dedicated to the Immaculate Conception in Ħamrun, will be organising an artistic exhibition and live re-enactments of the Last Supper. The exhibition is taking place in the parish centre, Manuel Magri, Street, Ħamrun.

Till April 6
Miniature church model
A miniature model of a church, complete with fine, hand-painted replicas of paintings, is on display at 29, Korfu Street, Sgħajtar, Naxxar. Open: weekdays from 6.30 to 10 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 6 to 11 p.m.

Till April 7
The St Helen Band Club is holding Għall-Maħfra tad-Dnubiet, an artistic Holy Week exhibition at 189, Main Street, Birkirkara.

Till April 7
Agħmlu dan b’tifkira tiegħi
Life-size statues exhibition representing the Last Supper and other objects related to Holy Week. Event organised by Kummissjoni Żgħażagħ Bastjaniżi at the Soċjetà Filarmonika Pinto Banda San Sebastjan, Qormi.

Till April 7
Il-Kundanna
An exhibition of a Roman prison in the time of Jesus, organised by Kummissjoni Żgħazagħ Bastjaniżi showing at World War II Shelter, Qormi police station.

Passion plays

Sunday
Nirien 2012
Dwal Ġodda is organising its yearly production in conjunction with the Għargħur Good Friday procession. Events kick off at 4.30 p.m., where music will welcome the audience as it enters the village main square where a stage will be erected along the parish church parvis. The performance commences at 5 p.m.

www.dwalgodda.com

April 2-4
Il-Fidwa
A production related to the passion of Jesus Christ organised by Xewkija local council will take place at Ġnien ta’ Blankas (Ġnien taż-Żebbuġ), Xewkija.

Concerts

Tonight, Saturday, April 2-3
PDNJC
Cappella Sanctae Catharinae, Malta’s only male choir, will be putting up a concert of sacred music for Holy Week. This year, the concerts will be tied to the statues used in the traditional Holy Week processions that are held all over Malta. The concert will offer a series of musical reflections on the passion story, using polyphonic works from the 16th and 17th centuries. Among the composers represented, there will be music by Palestrina, Victoria, Monteverdi and Tartini. The choir will be having the concerts in four different parish churches across Malta, three of which will have the Good Friday processional statues out on display. The venues of the concerts are as follows: tonight, Għaxaq; Saturday, Vittoriosa; Monday, Msida; Tuesday, Għargħur. All concerts start at 7.15 p.m.
All concerts are free, but a donation towards the needs of the choir and the respective churches would be appreciated.

Saturday
The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross
The Marie Therese Vassallo Voice Studio is presenting an evening of sacred music and reflections for Holy Week at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish church, Balluta, at 7.15 p.m.

April 3
Sacred Music at the Cathedral
The Leone Band will perform another keynote concert in its annual concert calendar inside the Gozo Cathedral. The Leone Band makes full use of the cathedral’s homogeneous acoustics and poignant décor as it goes to perform some of the most known seasonal motets, arias and chorales. The programme will feature the Leone Band conducted by Colin Attard and will be presented with the courtesy of the Rev. Cathedral Chapter. It will start at 7.30 p.m. and entrance is free of charge.

April 5
Concert of Funeral Marches
The King’s Own Philharmonic Society will be giving a concert in Merchants Street, Valletta (in front of Ministry for Health) at 9.30 a.m.

Other

Till April 6
Last Supper table in Lija
A replica of the Last Supper table is on display at the old parish church of Our Saviour in Lija.
Admission, which is free, will be approximately every 15 minutes; visitors are asked to remain inside till the end of the commentary so as not to disturb others present. The commentary will be alternately in English and Maltese.
Times of showing are: Wednesday at 7.30 p.m.: opening and blessing of the Last Supper table; Thursday: 7 to 10 p.m.; Friday: 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

Sunday
Good Friday procession
Band services start on Palm Sunday as the Good Friday procession leaves from the Gozo Cathedral with the participation of the Leone Band, the Fgura scouts band and the Rev. Cathedral Chapter. This earliest Good Friday procession in Gozo includes a set of seven devotional tableaus, some of them dating back to the 18th century. The procession departs from the Gozo Cathedral within the Citadel fortifications at 6 p.m. while the Leone band performs a set of funeral marches found in the album Redemptoris Mater (2011).

April 2
Good Friday vigil
The Gozo Cathedral Parish is organising an open-air prayer vigil in preparation for Good Friday in the Citadel’s main square. This will be a public moment of prayer and reflection at the feet of each of the devotional statues representing the mysteries of suffering from the Passion of the Christ as they are displayed underneath the Cathedral’s main portals. The vigil starts at 7 p.m. Seating will be provided at the Cathedral Square.

April 5
Spectacular Illumination on the night of Maundy Thursday with hundreds of candles, organised by Kummissjoni Żgħażagħ Bastjaniżi will take place at St Sebastian Church parvis, Qormi at 8 p.m.

April 8
Festive demonstration of the Risen Christ
The Easter gloria is rung from the Cathedral’s bell tower on April 7 in the evening during the Pontifical High Mass by the Bishop of Gozo, while the Leone Band plays its gloria on Sunday morning when it parades the statue of the Risen Christ. The morning march leaves the Gozo Cathedral within the mediaeval fortifications at 10.30 a.m. and marches around Savina and Independence (it-Tokk) Squares.

Visual Arts

Ends tomorrow
Silver Palette Art Competition & Exhibition 2012
A collective exhibition is showing at the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce – Palazzo de La Salle, 219, Republic Street, Valletta.

Till Saturday
Interim
A recent collection of paintings by James Vella Clark is showing at Capotavola, Triq ix-Xatt, Marsascala.

Till Saturday
Plastic Dreams
A collection of playful photographs by Elisa Von Brockdorff are on show at Angelica’s Café in Archbishop Street, Valletta.

Opens April 2 till April 29
Encounters
A combined exhibition by Lawrence Pavia and Emilio Vilaseca will be showing at Art..e Gallery, Victoria. Open from 9.30 a.m. till 12 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. or by appointment on 2155 7911/9980 4774.

Till April 8
Adoration of Mary
An exhibition by Zsusanna Ardo which explores the gender dynamics from the female point of view of the female photographer and her female protagonist. A collaborative project between St James Cavalier and Heritage Malta.

Till April 14
VAM: Valletta Art Museum
Valletta is a city bidding to be European Capital of Culture 2018. Sadly, its antique tapestries remain locked up, its modern works of art are left in storage and its contemporary art scene has no real home. After over a year of collaborative research and design, Chris Briffa Architects present a proposal whereby the Valletta Covered market, Is-Suq tal-Belt, is rehabilitated into an art museum fit for the city of Valletta: the VAM.
An architectural exhibition running till April 14 at Lily Agius Gallery, 54, Cathedral Street, Sliema illustrates their proposal, with visitors having the opportunity to leave their comments which will subsequently be presented to the media and the authorities. The exhibition is supported by The Malta Arts Fund.

www.lilyagiusgallery.com

Till April 20
Photographic exhibition
An exhibition of photographs by Mary Attard is showing at the Exhibitions’ Hall, St Francis Square, Victoria. Open Monday to Friday between 8.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. (Closed on Good Friday)

Till April 28
360
An exhibition of woodturned artefacts by Harry Mallia is showing at the Carmelite Priory Museum, Mdina. Opening hours: 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.

Till April 29
Metal Magic: Spanish Treasures from the Khalili Collections
A selection of works from the Khalili Collections is showing at the Grand Salon of the National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta.

Till April 29
Polarities
An exhibition of ceramic works by Kenneth Grima is showing at the National Museum of Fine Arts, South Street, Valletta.

Till April 30
Journeys of Discovery
An annual artistic project organised by the primary art teachers of the Gozo College in collaboration with Heritage Malta. The Gozo Area Exhibition Hall in the Citadel is hosting an eclectic show of drawings, paintings, documentation of an installation and mixed media sculptures by Gozitan primary school students. Open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. till noon.

Till April 30
Roots
An exhibition of sculpture by Mario Agius is showing at Palazzo Ferreria, Republic Street, Valletta

Till April 30
A Cross-Section of My Art Life 2
Mary Clare Albanozzo is holding an art exhibition entitled at her studio at 51A, Tigné Street, Sliema. Open every day. For private viewing call on 2137 1345 /9988 1197 or e-mail clarealbanozzo@gmail.com.

Concerts/Music

Tomorrow
Brahms – Tragedy and Passion
Special guest, Japanese pianist Yoko Misumi will be playing alongside Czech cellist Lucie Kucharova and Maltese violist Karl Mifsud, to compositions by Brahms including the Trio No. 114 and Sonatensatz at St James Cavalier Music Room, at 8 p.m.

Performing Arts

Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday
Kjaroskur
Dù Theatre is back on the boards after a creative break with this new original piece and first prizewinner of the Francis Ebejer Competition 2011. Written by the group’s Simone Spiteri this new piece boasts a cast of some of Malta’s finest actors including Peter Galea, Stefan Farrugia, Coryse Borg and Simone Spiteri herself under the direction of Chris Gatt. More information about the group can be found on the website www.dutheatre.com. Showing at St James Cavalier at 8 p.m.

Sunday
Moon, Suns, Elephant Trunks and Zebra Stripes
Teatru Qroqq is presenting a performance based on creation stories narrated with the use of shadow puppetry. Some stories are narrated in Maltese and others in English. The performance is targeted at a young audience of four to eight years of age. Directed by Isabelle Gatt and Marcelle Teuma. Showing at MITP, St Christopher Street, Valletta at 6.30 p.m.

April 4-5, 7, 9-11
The Complete History of Malta (More or Less)
This performance goes through 7,000 years of Maltese history at breakneck speed in just one hour – leaving the audience breathless and crying with laughter. Written by Malcolm Galea who has written such plays Jack and the Beanstalk and Aladdin, the play stars Mr Galea himself along with the promising young actor Joseph Zammit.
The performance is ideal for schoolchildren and adults who wish to learn more about Malta’s rich history. Showing at St James Cavalier during the Easter holidays at 11 a.m.

Other

Sunday
Talk by Paul Klaassen
The Malta Cactus and Succulent Society is organising a special meeting on the occasion of UK-based expert Paul Klaassen’s visit to Malta. Mr Klaassen is an expert in his field and will be delivering a talk at Dar l-Ewropa, 254, St Paul Street, Valletta. The programme of events kicks off at 9.45 a.m. and goes on till 11.45 a.m. The second part of the programme will then take place between 6 and 8 p.m. Attendance is free of charge.

Sunday
In Guardia Parade
A historical re-enactment organised by the Malta Tourism Authority. The In Guardia Parade is a re-enactment that portrays an authentic event that took place regularly inside Fort St Elmo. The re-enactment portrays the inspection of the fort and its garrison by the Grand Bailiff of the Order of the Knights of St John in charge of military affairs. During the re-enactment, the soldiers and knights of the fort’s garrison – some 70 re-enactors – are kitted-out in their finest uniforms and perform a military drill demonstrating to the Grand Bailiff the garrison’s state of readiness in the event of a military threat. The show begins at 11 a.m. and lasts 40 minutes.

Useful contacts

St James Cavalier
Tel: 2122 3200
E-mail: info@sjcav.org
www.sjcav.org

Manoel Theatre
Tel: 2124 6389
bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt
www.manoeltheatre.com.mt

To submit a cultural event e-mail: arts@timesofmalta.com