THEATRE
Lubien
31 March and 1-3 April at St James Cavalier, Valletta
Dramatised sections from Lubien, a collection of stories by Trevor Zahra put up by the theatre company Kast under the direction of Carmel S. Aquilina
Marlene Moves
1-3, 8-10 April at St James Cavalier, Valletta
Songs, stories, scenes and poetry by and about Marlene Dietrich, Noel Coward, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ernest Hemingway… framed by a story of nowadays. In Malta. A German woman. A Maltese man. Produced by Actinghouse Productions, directed by Thomas Schendel, starring Irene Christ and Paul Portelli
Ersaqli Ha Npoggi
2-3 April at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta
Ray Cooney, translated by Joe Izzo. Produced by the Valletta Dramatic Company
Le Francais, c’est magique!
3 April at St James Cavalier, Valletta
An interactive, humorous and poetic magic show presented by illusionist Benoit Rosemont (this show is for anyone who has studied French for at least two years)
The Time of My Life
8-10 April at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta
By Alan Ayckbourne, directed by Nanette Brimmer and produced by MADC
The Good Doctor
8-10, 15-17 April at St James Cavalier, Valletta
The Good Doctor served as Neil Simon’s tribute to Anton Chekhov, arguably one of the greatest writers in Russian history. The play is broken up into a series of adaptations of some of Chekhov’s stories, with the common thread being a character called the Writer. The cast includes John Suda who also directs the play; Philip Stilon, Michael Tabone, Elsa Romei, Maria Buckle, Alexandra Camilleri Warne and Luka Desira Buttigieg. Produced by Unifaun Theatre
The Czech Black Light Theatre WOW Show
9-10 April at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta
Dancers, colourful butterflies, fish and 3D imagery will be at their best in this extraordinary extravaganza which combines ultra violet lights and fluorescent colours with special effects, creating a rare magical moment. WOW will be performed by an all-Czech cast. In conjunction with Nexos Lighting Ltd. It forms part of the activities marking the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Consulate of the Czech Republic in Malta in May 1995.
Nunsense 2
15-17 April at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta
Produced by Actreact Theatre Company
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
19-20 and 23 April at St James Cavalier, Valletta
A theatre production for children based on the popular story of a famous candy maker. Produced by Teatru Qroqq
Lejl ta’ Xewqat
21-25 April at St James Cavalier, Valletta
Another Teatru Qroqq production, aimed mainly at children
The Odd Couple
23-24 and 29-30 April at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta
The classic comedy by Neil Simon. Recently-divorced obsessive, compulsive and neat freak Felix Unger is down on his luck. With nowhere else to turn, he finds himself reluctantly on the doorstep of his pal Oscar Madison, who is himself divorced.
Oscar is a total slob and proud of it. This is a play about how total opposites can live with each other without losing their sanity.
Alex Grech stars as the neurotically neat Felix and Kevin Drake will portray the unkempt Oscar. The poker players are Jean Pierre Busuttil, Paul Cilia, Stefan Farrugia and Pierre Stafrace while the Pigeon sisters are Julia Calvert and Josianne Zammit. Directed by Jon Rosser, set by Peter Howitt, produced by Masquerade
Stones in his Pocket
29-30 April and 1, 6-8 May at St James Cavalier, Valletta
The story concerns two Irishmen, Jake Quinn and Charlie Conlon, who are working as extras in a movie being made by a Hollywood studio in County Kerry. They slowly tell the story of the effect this has upon the local community… However, the make believe movies of Hollywood have little to do with the real-life drama of the poverty stricken villagers and it is their story that is told on stage. Produced by FM productions
MUSIC
Music Marathon
28 March until 4 April at BJ’s Nightclub, Ball Street, Paceville
The 16th edition of the live music marathon, in aid of cultural and philanthropic causes
Maltese Protestant Hymns
4 April at St James Cavalier, Valletta
The Gukulari Ensemble together with tenor Bernard Busuttil present a lecture/recital on rediscovered Maltese Protestant hymns
The Nostalgic Piano
5 April at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta
With Kim and Robert Colvill. A trip down memory lane with favourites like the Warsaw Concerto, Claire de Lune, Salute d’Amour. Produced by MTMC
Piano Recital by Stefan Cassar
12 April at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta
Produced by MTMC
Annual Concert
16 April at the St Angelo Hall, Malta Maritime Museum, Vittoriosa
Organised by the St. Lawrence Band Club of Vittoriosa
Combined Concert with the participation of the National Youth Orchestra and the National Orchestra
17 April at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta
Cello and Orchestral Concert
26 April at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta
With soloist Jeremy Findlay on the cello. Conducted by Michael Laus. Produced by the national orchestra
Annual Music Marathon
29 April until 1 May at Simon’s Pub, Depiro Street, Sliema
Now, in its seventh edition. Fund-raising event for the Eden Foundation. Names confirmed for this year’s marathon include Marc Storace, Purple Haze, Fire, Frenzy Mono, Boys Next Door and Cartridge – with many more to come! For further information, visit www.simonsmalta.com
VISUAL ARTS
4 Rooms
1 March until 6 April at St James Cavalier, Valletta
Pinhole photography by Karen Stuke
The Magic of Art
11 March until 11 April at the Inner Courtyard, Vilhena Palace, Mdina
A collective exhibition of paintings by 10 Maltese artists. Organised by Heritage Malta
Heritage…Urban and Rural
12 March until 20 April at the Loggia, National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta
Exhibition of paintings by Andrew Micallef. Organised by Heritage Malta
Proposal for a sustainable development of Fort St Elmo: A concept for discussion
21 March until 6 April at Heritage Malta Head Office, Valletta
An exhibition of proposal drawings by Barbara Buehler and Thomas Hardy Karpati, organised by the Valletta Rehabilitation Project – Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure in collaboration with Heritage Malta
Beautiful China (Part Two)
21 March until 10 May at the China Cultural Centre art gallery, 173, Melita Street, Valletta
Photo exhibition organised by the China Cultural Centre
Antique Silver in the National Collection
22 March until 26 April at the Contemporary Hall, National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta
Temporary exhibition organised by Heritage Malta
Wine and Vineyards
23 March until 6 April at Gallery G, Villa Gourgion, 4, Sir Ugo Mifsud Street, Lija
Collective exhibition by 12 Maltese artists: Anna Grima, John Martin Borg, Arnold Sultana, James Vella Clark, Celia Borg Cardona, Denise Borg Millo, Lawrence Buttigieg, William Azzopardi, Anna Galea, Alex Dalli, Carlo Jourdan and Catherine Cavallo
Exhibition by Cedric Galea Pirotta
23 March until 8 April at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard
A burst of spring
31 March until 30 April at Muska, 24, Main Street, Balzan
A collective exhibition by Ray Azzopardi, Ben Borg Cardona, Celia Borg Cardona, Anna Galea and Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Realms of the Spirit
1-30 April at Cleland & Souchet, Portomaso, St Julians
Exhibition by Gozitan artist Christopher Saliba
Tangible Illusions
8-30 April at Messina Palace, 141 and 141A St Christopher Street, Valletta
A collection of newspaper collage paintings by Matthew Kassar
Exhibition of hand-signed photographs of internationally recognised musicians and actors
9-16 April at the Manoel Theatre Courtyard, Valletta
Exhibition of around 20 authentic hand-signed photographs of internationally recognised musicians and actors including Al Pacino, Robert Deniro, Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks, Madonna and Steven Spielberg. Organised by StarSign Gallery
Exhibition by Luciano Gasper
10-16 April at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard
Geometrie Liquide (tribute to Futurist Photodynamism)
15 April until 20 May at the Italian Cultural Institute, Valletta
Photographic exhibition by Rosetta Messori in collaboration with the Malta Photographic Society. The corpus of the exhibited photodynamic photos is dedicated to water. There is no element in nature which is perhaps more evocative than the sea, particularly for those who live on an island. The sea images of Rosetta Messori, however, point out only details of minute particles which suggest linear or winding geometric figures as they alter because of their continuous movement. Geometric liquids in black and white photos with fine sepia winding lines take on a density which may almost be touched as a result of a clever utilisation of light.
Creative Images
16 April until 22 May at St James Cavalier, Valletta
A photographic exhibition by the Malta Institute of Professional Photography (MIPP)
Exhibition by Graham Gurr
17 April until 1 May at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard
Watercolours, Gouache and Ink Paintings
28 April until 24 May at the Contemporary Hall, National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta
Exhibition by Helga Portanier
CINEMA
De Lovely
1 April at St James Cavalier, Valletta
Ladies in Lavender
2-5 and 16-19 April at St James Cavalier, Valletta
When Andrea, a handsome young Polish-Jewish violinist, is washed ashore in a close-knit Cornish community in 1936, spinster sisters Ursula and Janet Widdington (Judi Dench and Maggie Smith) take him under their wing and the stage is set for jealous rivalries, dark political paranoia and, ultimately, crushing heartbreak
Layer Cake
2-5 April at St James Cavalier, Valletta
The Return
6-24 April at St James Cavalier, Valletta
An errant dad is in desperate need of some practical parenting classes in The Return, an enigmatic Russian drama about fathers and sons.
Returning home after 12 years, the nameless “Papa” (Konstantin Lavronenko) decides to take his kids Ivan (Ivan Dobronravov) and Andrey (Vladimir Garin) on a weekend camping trip. A threatening bully armed with a macho code of conduct and a quick pair of fists, he’s determined to transform the boys into men... Whatever the cost
Una giornata particolare
7 April at the Italian Cultural Institute, Valletta
A 1977 production directed by Ettore Scola with Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastroianni, Gabriele Ferzetti and Elsa Martinelli. Davide di Donatello awarded for Best Direction.
On 6 May 1938, Fascist Rome is celebrating the arrival of the Fuhrer who is visiting the Duce. In a working class building in Rome, Antonietta, a housewife (Sophia Loren) and mother of six children, who grew up with great devotion towards the Duce, casually encounters her neighbour Gabriele (Marcello Mastroianni), a homosexual radio announcer and on the way to internment, for the first time...
Decalage Horaire
13 April at the Alliance Francaise, Floriana
By Daniele Thompson with Juliette Binoche and Jean Reno. English sub-titles.
Pampered beauty queen Rose and overstressed insomniac Felix have only one thing in common: they are through with bad relationships and have both sworn off the opposite sex. An airline strike grounds these total strangers together in Paris and they are forced to share the last available hotel room in town…
8 Femmes
20 April at the Alliance Francaise, Floriana
A film by Francois Ozon with Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Beart, Fanny Ardant, Virginie Ledoyen, Danielle Darrieux, Firmine Richard and Ludivine Sagnier. English sub-titles.
One morning the industrialist Marcel is found stabbed in his room. Eight women are his potential murderers: his wife, his daughters, his mother-in-law, his sister-in-law, his sister, the cook and the maid. The house is isolated in a snowstorm, the phone is dead and one of them has to be the culprit. Mutual suspicions reveal the various secrets in their lives.
Carandiru
20-23 April at St James Cavalier, Valletta
Prisons do not come much meaner than the São Paulo Carandiru Penitentiary, a decrepit cell block overcrowded with Brazil’s most violent criminals. It is a tinderbox just waiting for a spark to ignite it, which is exactly what happened one fateful day in 1992 when riot police stormed the building.
Based on the bestseller by real-life prison doc Dráuzio Varella (played by Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos), the sprawling Carandiru is funny, violent and shocking. In short, it’s worth doing time for.
Ballando Ballando
28 April at the Italian Cultural Institute, Valletta
A 1983 production by Ettore Scola with M. Berman, M. Scattini and M. Chauvin.
Changes in society and customs seen through a dance hall on the outskirts of Paris, which becomes a witness of history covering a span of 50 years from 1936 to modern times; a kind of musical hour-glass.
It is a meeting place for middleclass bourgeois, labourers, housewives, shop assistants, a universe of solitude seeking the only way of communication through dance. Fifty years of rhythms and songs which beat time – without a single word from the characters themselves, according to the aesthetics of silent cinema
DANCE
Strait Street
23-24, 29-30 April and 1 May at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta
Organised by Yada Dance Company
LECTURES
Medieval Law in Malta
14 April at Din L-Art Helwa offices, 133, Melita Street, Valletta
Public talk by President Emeritus Ugo Mifsud Bonnici. Organised by Din L-Art Helwa
Outline of Chinese Culture
21 April at the China Cultural Centre, 173, Melita Street, Valletta
Lecture by China Cultural Centre director Xiang Xiaowei; please confirm attendance on 21225055 or email maltaccc@ yahoo.com
The Architecture and Urban Space of Mdina
26 April at the Heritage Malta Head Office
Public lecture by Prof. Denis De Lucca, organised by Heritage Malta
Maltese historic cannons held in British collections
28 April at Couvre Porte, Vittoriosa
Lecture by Mario Farrugia, organised by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna
OTHER EVENTS
Watch out for events organised as part of Din L-Art Helwa’s 40th anniversary celebrations; these include organised public tours to Din L-Art Helwa properties on 10 April and free entry to all Din L-Art Helwa properties on 16 April
Mini Book Fair
7-9 April at Messina Palace, 141 and 141A, St Christopher Street, Valletta
Organised by the German-Maltese circle
Vizzji bhall-Ktieb
22-23 April at Caraffa Stores, Vittoriosa
A number of initiatives organised by Inizjamed in conjunction with the Vittoriosa local council on the occasion of World Book Day. Activities will include artistic installations, a discussion on the burning of books, a theatrical recital of new literary works as well as the playing of the harp and violin to accompany the literary works being presented
Malta Fireworks Festival
29-30 April at the Grand Harbour, Valletta
Now in its fourth edition, this event will be held in connection with the first anniversary of Malta’s entry into the EU one year ago.
This year, besides Lascaris Wharf, the audience can spread out along the cruise liner terminal to enjoy the firework displays.
During the two evenings, 21 of Malta’s best fireworks factories will be demonstrating their ability in the craft of unique fireworks displays. Organised by the Malta Tourism Authority