St James Cavalier will be a hub of activity next Sunday with the celebration of World Book Day in full swing for the whole day. The activities start at 10am and will last till late. A number of television personalities, politicians, actors, musicians and singers have been roped in to make this event a success.
The events include Kelma Bejn Tnejn, which will have authors such as Mariella Pisani Bencini, Nicholas De Piro and Trevor Zahra holding public discussions on their works. Il-Ktieb Favorit Tieghi features personalities who will discuss their favourite book and its impact. Among the personalities taking part are Dr Alfred Sant, Lou Bondi, Vicki Ann Cremona and Claudette Pace.
Classic Maltese literature will be presented during a session titled Bejn l-Epika, r-Romanticizmu u s-Socjali. Gorg Peresso has gathered an impressive group of guests including Charles Abela Mizzi, Josephine Zammit Cordina and Joyce Guillaumier, who will give public readings from Maltese classics.
Children will also be treated to hourly sessions of storytelling in both English and Maltese by personalities Peppi Azzopardi, Nic Mifsud and Minus from the OWKEJ team, Valerie Vella and Kurt Castillo.
Music will also be featured, as it is another way which authors can express their creativity. In “Alternative Authors”, Prof. Charles Camilleri will discuss how composers build their works. This will be followed by a performance by Alex Vella Gregory and Veronica Stivala, a musical improvisation enhanced with literary sessions.
Soprano Marouska Attard and guitarist Evan Plumpton will perform at the Chapel of St Catherine of Italy in a concert titled Poezija fil-Muzika. They will present works by Brahms, Arne, Depinna, Bishop and Schubert.
The National Book Council and Poezijaplus, which will be holding a session of contemporary Maltese poetry, will discuss poetry.
Theatre enthusiasts will get their share with a performance by Hats and Tales titled Le Salon. It is a repeat performance and is described as works inspired by words where writers and artists collaborate to bring their words to life.
St James Cavalier will also screen special films inspired by great literary works. The films being shown are Pride and Prejudice, The Merchant of Venice and Wind in the Willows; the latter is a special screening at 4pm.
Gastronomy will also feature during World Book Day with Bill Hermitage hosting a wine tasting session and discussing the latest books on wine. International chef Tome Kime will launch his latest cookery book and share some cookery tips with the public.
The National Library is putting up an exhibition at St James Cavalier showing pictures of the oldest and most precious documents in the archives of the National Library.