What is the first thought that comes to mind when one sees the word ‘ċuqlajta’ – if one is not conversant with the Maltese language? It seems to be a strange word. How is it pronounced? What does it mean? One version is the wooden clatter in a church steeple and its sound replaces that of bells from Maundy Thursday evening till Easter Saturday.
But how and what makes #Ċuqlajta fit in an open-air theatrical production?
On Palm Sunday, thousands are expected to flock to Għargħur to ‘be there’ for this yearly production, which includes ritual, drama, tradition, music and much more – but is so difficult to describe. Actors within the theatrical troupe Dawl Godda are presenting a two-act play on the church parvis, in the main square and along the streets of the village.
At 4.30pm, the ċuqlajta sound will welcome the audience and introduce the first act as the actors enter the church square. Is what happened on Tabor just make-believe? Are we here just to be slapped on the face until maybe we get some kind of promotion in the after-life? Is it true that the Nazzarene was a jolly person? Maybe his friends, Peter and John, were on the receiving end of his jokes. But they ran away when they saw trouble brewing in Gethsemane. Although the script is in Maltese, excerpts are in English for emphasis and so that tourists can also be able to ‘have a say’.
After the first act, the traditional Good Friday statues will be carried out of the church, the actors join them and together they meander through the Għargħur streets until they reach the road leading to the stage where the second act is enacted.
At around 8pm, while the parvis re-establishes itself as the site for ‘public debate’, the actors forming part of the procession will resume their role on stage while bringing to a halt the statues and ‘breathing life’ into them during the second act of #Ċuqlajta.
At Għargħur, the audience will not be in one place, just as in life we are never stationary. What happens on stage challenges and cajoles, points to joy and perspective, indicates but goes at a tangent.
After all, Holy Week is not only about that which is painful. It can be a wonderful life experience leading to ‘a Happy Easter’ – not just for one day.
• #Ċuqlajta is being held by Dwal Godda in Għargħur on Sunday between 4.30 and 9.30pm. The bilingual event is free of charge.
• More information may be obtained by e-mail: dwalgodda@yahoo.co.uk, by phone on 7909 2624/9928 8288 or on Dwal Godda’s Facebook page.