What will you sing when your child is born? And what will you sing when you miss your loved ones? And how will you express your yearning for the lost land where you were raised?

Following its international debut at Sala Scicluna in Turin, Ilħna Mitlufa (Lost Voices), Teatru Malta’s first ever touring show will be landing at the Astra theatre in Victoria.

In search of this lost voice, L-Ilħna Mitlufa is a celebration of a tradition in rhyme and song; a vocal expression inherited from the land to which we were once so connected. It is a musical journey in search of the voice that we had, used by those who came before us to express their daily fears and aspirations; an age-old story, woven by singers past and present and told in poetry.

The għannej as the poet, the keeper of memory, the storyteller and comic entertainer, sings on our behalf and for those who have lost their voice, renewing an unbroken tradition; that of being together in song. A story to instigate the search to find one’s own voice, and the need to sing when words are not enough.

The production is one that aims to strike a nostalgic chord with everyone through the medium of għana, by narrating our heritage through song, a concept that musical director Andrew Alamango has researched for many years.

Ilħna Mitlufa is being performed for one afternoon only on Sunday at the Astra Theatre, at 4pm. For tickets visit https://teatrumalta.org.mt. Please be advised that seating for this event is random and is on a strict first-come, first-served basis. 

The production will celebrate the folk tradition of għana. It will also be happening during the Gozo Alive Weekend.