THEATRE
Paul
2-4 March (extra shows) at St James Cavalier, Valletta
Unifaun Theatre presents Paul, a play by Howard Brenton. Starting from the moment Saul receives a divine revelation on the road to Damascus it explores the early history of the Christian faith, reaching a dramatic and, for some, shocking conclusion. Taking as his main source the letters of this profound religious thinker, Howard Brenton explores the extraordinary phenomenon of faith. While offering a secular reading of the story of Christ’s resurrection, at the play’s heart Paul preaches from his Letter to the Corinthians, the eloquence of which cannot fail to move. An irreverent, provocative new play by the author of The Romans in Britain, Paul had apparently already prompted over 200 letters of complaint even before its first performance at the National Theatre in London at the beginning of October 2005. Describing it as “a play about the nature of faith” and a “secular reading of the story of Christ’s resurrection”, the National Theatre’s director, Nicholas Hytner, admits it is “irreverent”, “provocative” and “sceptical”, though “not intended to be controversial or shocking”. Directed by Chris Gatt, the cast includes Manuel Cauchi, Kevin Drake, Victor Debono, Paul Portelli, Stefan Cachia Zammit, Mario Spiteri and talented newcomers Mariano Said, Christian Micallef, Roger Mulvaney and Maria Buckle.
Company
2-4 March at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta
Stephen Sondheim’s award-winning musical, directed by British actress Denise Mulholland. Musical direction by Rosetta De Battista and produced by MADC. Company explores the relationship between 35-year-old bachelor Bobby and his married friends - five crazy couples who know all about relationships even if they don’t always manage to get it right. From the about-to-be-married to the long-married, the often-married and even the once-married! As he observes the ups and downs of the various relationships surrounding him, Bobby wonders who’s got it right. Is it better to stay single or is he missing out on a fundamental part of life by refusing to commit to anyone? With Mikhail Basmadjian as Bobby, as well as Julie James, Isabel Warrington, Pia Zammit, Charlotte Grech, Wesley Ellul, John Marinelli, Alan Montanaro, Alan Paris, Jean-Pierre Busuttil, Leontine, Katherine Brown, Krista Paris and Elaine Camilleri
L-Imfietah
9-11, 17-19 March at St James Cavalier, Valletta
Written by Zep Camilleri and Mario Micallef; directed by Zep Camilleri. Produced by Talenti Theatrical Company. With Mario Micallef (interpreting seven characters), Sara Camilleri, Miriam Greenaway and Sabrina Wingfield
Pigama ghal Sitta
24-25 March at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta
Marc Camoletti’s comedy Don’t Dress for Dinner, directed in this Maltese version by Joe Izzo. Produced by the Valletta Dramatic Company
Life x 3
30 March-1 April at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta
Henry's boss Hubert and his wife have arrived a day early for a dinner party. As the evening disintegrates, Yasmina Reza's play takes us through the same scenario three different times. Life x 3 is a modern comedy of manners, demonstrating how tiny differences in mood, response and temper can vastly alter not only the events, but the emotional relationships and future lives of the participants. Directed by Jon Rosser, the cast is made up of Coryse Borg, Alex Grech, Anthony Ellul and Vanessa Macdonald. Produced by MADC.
MUSIC
Zoo goes Music
2-4 March at the Powerhouse Theatre, Valletta Waterfront
Chrysander Agius, Claire Agius Ordway, Daniel Chircop and Owen Bonnici present a two-hour show which will see a different atmosphere and a different set-up, but definitely the same fun of the Zoo shows, with new political and satirical jokes on all that is currently happening on our islands. Zoo goes Music is about the musicals that one loved in the younger days, about one’s favourite pop stars, the Eurovision and all that has to do with music. The most-loved Zoo characters team up with new ones, to sing with Doris Day and Luciano Pavarotti.
Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi
14, 16 March at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta
Verdi’s final operatic masterpiece opens the festival in a production by the Teatro Borgatti di Cento. Paol Drigo in the title role with the Orkestra Nazzjonali conducted by Mro Michael Laus. As part of the BOV Opera Festival
The Vodafone Music Jam – Ira Losco
17 March at the Grandmaster Suite, The Hilton Malta
A live unplugged performance by Ira Losco, accompanied by her band as well as guest musicians. The night will be hosted by Claire Agius and will also feature Chasing Pandora, Scar and Daniel Genuis from Bitterside as supporting acts. Concert organised exclusively for Vodafone customers. For more info call Vodafone Customer Service on 247 from your Vodafone or 9999 9247 from any other line
Baroque Opera double bill
18 March at the Sacred Heart Auditorium, St Julians
Pergolesi’s seminal opera La Serva Padrona and Cimarosa’s Il Maestro di Musica in this double bill of Baroque opera buffa
L’Elisir d’Amore
19, 21 March at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta
By Gaetano Donizetti. Presented by the Operalaboratorio del Teatro Massimo di Palermo and the National Orchestra. Orchestra conducted by Michael Laus. Artistic director Elizabet Smith. As part of the BOV Opera Festival. In collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute.
CINEMA
Shhhh! The Silent Movies are back…
28 February, 7, 21 March at the Teatru Manoel, Valletta
St James Cavalier and Teatru Manoel have joined forces to present a series of some of the most fascinating and loved masterpieces from the silent screen. Come and watch the drama and horror in the face of Dr Jekyll and laugh at the incredible physical gags of Buster Keaton and meet some of the most innovative pioneers of film technique. All this to live music accompaniment by some of the best talents on the island. Our Hospitality, a 1923 movie by John G. Blystone and Buster Keaton (live music by Conrad Briffa on keyboards), will be shown on 28 February; Man with a Movie Camera (with a soundscape by Owen Jay), by Dziga Vertov, will be shown on 7 March while John Robertson’s Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (live music by Tim Ellis) will be shown on 21 March.
9th European Film Festival
3-24 March at the Eden Century Cinemas, St Julians
Organised by the European Commission Representation in Malta
Prendimi l’anima
8 March at the Italian Cultural Institute, Vecchia Cancelleria, Piazza San Giorgio, Valletta
Alla Luce del Sole
15 March at the Italian Cultural Institute, Vecchia Cancelleria, Piazza San Giorgio, Valletta
VISUAL ARTS
Outlining Our Worlds
20 January-4 March at the Heritage Malta Head Office, Valletta
A collective exhibition of paintings and installations by seven artists
Colonial Malta: Building a Romantic Landscape
7 February-20 March at the Contemporary Hall, National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta
An exhibition curated by Dr Malcolm Borg of Heritage Enterprise, organised by Heritage Malta
Phantoms
9 February-11 March at the Inquisitor’s Palace, Vittoriosa
An exhibition of sculptures by Chris Ebejer
Exhibition of Chinese fans and umbrellas
13 February to 22 March at Upper Galleries, St James Cavalier, Valletta
As part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, which this year fell on 18 February, The China Cultural Centre in association with St James Cavalier presents an exhibition of Chinese fans and umbrellas. This exhibition contains over 70 fans and umbrellas, covering a variety of painting styles and calligraphy.
Open Verse
16 February-25 March at the main hall, St James Cavalier, Valletta
Paintings by Trevor Borg
Life Forms
1-31 March at Cleland & Souchet, Portomaso
An exhibition by Sharon Borg Cesareo
Ecce Mater Tua, Ecce Filius Tuus: Good Friday costumes in Spain and Malta
1 March-15 April at the Inquisitor’s Palace, Vittoriosa
An exhibition of images of Good Friday processions in Spain and Malta, including also other Holy Week traditional artifacts, organized by Heritage Malta in collaboration with the Spanish Maltese Cultural Centre
Silent Warriors: The Chinese Terracotta Soldiers
1 March-31 July at the Salon, National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta
An exhibition of the terracotta soldiers, horses and objects excavated from the Mauseoleum Zone of Emperor Qin Shihuang, organised by Heritage Malta and Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau with the collaboration of the Chinese Cultural Centre in Malta, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malta and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, with the support of Vodafone Malta Foundation, Emirates and the Malta Tourism Authority
New Faces 2007
2-23 March at Gallery G, No 4, Sir Ugo Mifsud Street, Lija
Gallery G presents the New Faces 2007 exhibition for the third consecutive year; the main aim of this exhibition is to identify new artistic talent on our islands. Gallery G is proud to present the shortlist of nine applicants, selected by Gallery G’s panel of judges whose primary criteria for selection was potential. The exhibition will include Marketa Brezovska (mixed media); Erika Chircop (mixed media); Nicole Diacono (acrylics); Wilhelmina Fenech Conti (watercolours); Jackie Magri (watercolours and acrylics); Mark Perceval-Maxwell (acrylics); Simon Theuma (watercolours); Vickie Tonna (watercolours and acrylics); Jennifer Zammit Sammut (watercolours and acrylics).
Art Pieces
10 March-8 April at the Heritage Malta head office, Valletta
An exhibition of paintings by Carmel Bonello
Rivisitazioni
28 March-20 April at the Italian Cultural Institute, Vecchia Cancelleria, Piazza San Giorgio, Valletta
Exhibition by Luciano Micallef and Daniel Cilia
Mitte
29 March – 24 April at the Loggia, National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta
An exhibition of abstract paintings by Fabrizio E. Ellul, curated by Lisa Gwen Baldacchino
Fr Emmanuel Magri SJ: Jesuit, Ethnographer, Archaeologist
29 March-29 July at the Inquisitor’s Palace, Vittoriosa
An exhibition about one of the pioneers of Maltese museums organised by Heritage Malta and the Maltese Jesuit Province on the centenary of his death
Diagnosis: decoding an Island’s identity
30 March – 21 April at Gallery G, No 4, Sir Ugo Mifsud Street, Lija
An exhibition featuring artwork by Vince Caruana. The artist's varied impressions constituting our islands' identity are constructed of transparent overlapping geometrical planes with light pouring as if through a series of gauzy veils. His palette of blues, greens, reds and ochres adds a brightness and original touch enhancing such atmospheric landscapes.
LECTURES
Manwel Magri the First Maltese Folklorist
27 February at Heritage Malta head office, Valletta
Public lecture by Dr George Mifsud Chircop, organised by Heritage Malta
Monuments, the Landscaped Garden and Death
3 March at the Lower Barracca Gardens, Valletta
An on-site lecture by Dr Malcolm Borg. Pre-booking essential as limited tickets available. Complimentary tickets can be obtained from the Museum of Fine Arts (Tel: 2122 5769). Organised by Heritage Malta
The Genius of Girolamo Cassar as a Military Engineer
6 March at Heritage Malta head office, Valletta
Public lecture by Roger Vella Bonavita. Organised by Heritage Malta
Changing Times: Malta Taste and New Emotions in Early 19th century
8 March at the National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta
Public lecture by Nicholas de Piro, organised by Heritage Malta. Complimentary tickets can be collected on a first-come-first-served basis from the National Museum of Fine Arts (Tel: 2122 5769). Priority seating to ticket holders
Medicine in pre-Hospitaller Malta
8 March at Din L-Art Helwa, 133, Melita Str, Valletta
Public lecture by Prof. Charles Savona Ventura, organised by Din L-Art Helwa
The Lifestyle of the Knights of Malta
14 March at Din L-Art Helwa, 133, Melita Str, Valletta
Short course by Mr Dane Munro, organised by Din L-Art Helwa; admission for DLH members is Lm5 and Lm8 for non-members, including coffee and refreshments
Unearthing Malta’s past: Fr Emmanuel Magri’s pioneering work in archaeology
27 March at Heritage Malta head office, Valletta
Public lecture by Josef Mario Briffa SJ, organised by Heritage Malta
OTHER EVENTS
March’s Total Lunar Eclipse
3 March at the Greek Theatre, Gnien l-Gharusa tal-Mosta Targa Gap, Mosta
A total lunar eclipse awaits us this month. The main significance of this particular eclipse is that observers will witness the complete sequence from (and to) penumbral stages. This will be the last time we can observe this full sequence until the 28th December 2029 lunar eclipse. Totality will last for 85 minutes, with mid-eclipse occurring at 00.20. Rather than turning black, the moon usually glows deep orange or red when totally eclipsed. Members of the Astronomical Society of Malta will be observing from the Greek Theatre at MCAST (Targa Gap). In case of difficulty or doubtful weather please contact Saviour Grech on Tel: 7949 2068. Members of the society will be setting up equipment from 20.30 onwards so anyone wishing to view the penumbral phases of the eclipse is encouraged to be there on time.
Open Day
25 March at the Medieval Chapel of Hal Millieri
On the occasion of the Feast of the Annunciation with mass and a tour of the burial grounds and historic frescoes by DLH volunteers. Organised by Din L-Art Helwa
This information is correct at the time of printing
Bookings for the Manoel Theatre from the Manoel Theatre Booking Office, tel. 2124 6389; email [email protected] and online www.teatrumanoel.com
Bookings at St James Cavalier from the Booking Office in Valletta, tel. 2122 3200 or email: [email protected]. More information from website www.sjcav.org
Bookings at the Mediterranean Conference Centre tel. 2559 5751 or [email protected]
[email protected]