Wondering how to fill the holidays? Here are some of the events that are happening around our islands during Holy Week.

The artistic road to salvation

An exhibition depicting Easter and Lenten lore is being held in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund. Co-ordinated by Laurence Mamo, the event brings together a number of traditional artists.

The exhibition includes the original statues, as well as later additions, and takes the form of a procession laid out on a massive 48-metre running table. In all, there are some 700 handmade terracotta figures that took three years to finish, using about 100kg of clay and about 200 small light bulbs. There are also over 100 lanterns, all in different shapes and colours, with the tiniest being about a square centimetre.

The exhibition is open until Saturday at San Anton Palace, Attard.

A spiritual theatrical experience

A life without faith is a life thrashed – this is the concept behind Ħajja Bla Fidi... Ħajja Mormija, an original theatrical production that portrays the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that is being put up today.

The drama was scripted by Edwin Vassallo, while Mario Mifsud and Mario Thomas Vassallo are responsible for its artistic direction. This is the 13th consecutive passion play that the Mosta youths are presenting during the Easter period.

This year’s production incorporates the efforts of more than 40 people, many of whom are relative newcomers, while others have acquired extensive theatrical experience over the years and now feature prominently in TV dramas on local television stations.

The play is being produced by community youth group Ignite 18+ at the Sacred Heart Oratory, Tower Street, Mosta, at 2.30pm and 6.30pm.

Life-sized holy art

This exhibition offers a series of walk-through, emotive and devotional sections artistically presented with 30 life-size statues, audio-visual effects and informative commentaries.

The sections include: The Last Supper (set in a renovated underground vault); The Crucifixion; and The Burial of Christ (set in an underground war shelter, hewn out of solid live rock).

These three sections are depicted with life-size statues by artist Alfred Camilleri Cauchi. There is also a set of small vari, a set of 10 original Via Crucis scenes (alto-reliefs by Antonio Mifsud), the resurrection of Christ (audio-visual) and the 1928 Good Friday procession in Żebbuġ that is being shown on the big screen.

A related publication in Maltese will be distributed to patrons.

The exhibition is being held at St Philip’s band club, Żebbuġ. It is open until March 29, from 10am to noon and from 6 to 10pm (and to 11pm on Maundy Thursday). On Good Friday, it is open from 10am to 1pm and from 4 to 10pm. Special arrangements can be made for groups by contacting Josef on 9920 3418 or sending an e-mail to jcachia75@hotmail.com.

Holy Week concert

The Marie-Therese Vassallo Voice Studio choir is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a Holy Week music concert under the direction of Vassallo herself.

The programme includes both works by Maltese composers as well as an international reper­toire, with the major work being Mass in C by Mro Frank Vassallo (1924-2000).

Vassallo has composed many works, some of which were published in England, Italy and France. Among his most popular com­positions are that commissioned by the first parish priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Balluta.

Innu Marċ lill-Madonna tal-Karmnu was a huge success and has been played and sung every year ever since by bands playing for the Carmelite feast in Balluta. It is sung annually in the programme on the eve of the feast in Balluta Square.

The concert will also feature other Maltese compositions, including the hymn Narak Mulej by Michael Camilleri as a duet between Marie Therese Vassallo and contralto Miriam Camilleri, together with the choir and orchestra. The orchestra will be conducted by the composer himself.

Other works include T’Accogliam, Pane Celeste by Carmelo Pace and O Madonna tad-Duluri, also by Vassallo. The other soloists are mezzosopranos Vanessa Magro and Rita Scicluna and tenors Paul Gatt and Louis Hole, as well as five-year-old Lauren Axiak. The organists accompanying the singers and orchestra are Rita Paris, Maria Scicluna and Michael Camilleri.

The concert is taking place tomorrow at St Catherine’s parish church, Żejtun, at 7.15pm. Entrance is free but donations are welcome.

The last hours of Christ

How would Christ be executed in this modern, corrupt world? Welcome to L-Elett, a production based around a personal, interactive experience that takes the audience deep into a shelter in Luqa.

L-Elett is a 30-minute walkthrough experience produced by Curtain Raiser in collaboration with St Andrew’s Band Club. The pro­duction is scripted and directed by Patrick Vella, who will also take the role of Pilate, with Carlos Farrugia as Jesus.

Performances are being held today between 6 and 9.30pm; Wednesday between 5 and 8.30pm, Thursday between 8 and 11.30pm and Friday between 9 and 11.30am and 7 and 9.30pm. The shelters are situated in Luqa Square, Luqa.

Every performance is limited to 30 people. Bookings may be made by calling on 2189 5072/7991 8857/9959 5906 or by sending an e-mail to activities@curtainraiser.org.

The Last Supper Table at Lija

The parish of Lija is once again holding a replica of the Last Supper Table according to Jewish custom. Entrance is free, and visitors are allowed in approximately every 15 minutes. Visitors are asked to remain inside till the end of the commentary so as not to disturb the others present.

Opening hours at the old parish church of Our Saviour are on Wednesday from 7.30pm onwards (opening and blessing ceremony), Thursday from 8.30 to 10.30pm, and Friday from 9am to 12.30pm.

Tales from the Bible

Hagar is a typical housewife living a common life with her husband and children. Only her friends and neighbours knew she existed. However, when she ended up being accused of adultery everyone pointed their finger at her and she became the subject of judgement and accusations.

The Għaqda Drammatika Għajnsielem, in collaboration with the Għajnsielem council, presents L-Akkuża, a passion play that explores the way Jesus saved this woman from the harsh penalty of death by stoning. Jesus saves Hagar not only from a sure death but also from the trap set up by the leaders of the people. But what will happen to Hagar after her narrow escape from death? Will her husband believe her story that she was set up?

The play will be staged at Independence Square, Għajnsielem, today at 7.30pm. Entrance is free. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The passion of Christ

Spiridione and Noel Vella will display statues depicting the passion of Christ at Dar Ommna Maria, Saint Nicholas Square, Siggiewi (opposite Saint Nicholas band club).

The exhibition is open until Friday on weekdays from 5 to 8pm, on Maundy Thursday from 5pm to midnight and on Good Friday from 9am to midnight.

The Passion of Christ re-enacted in aid of Mount Carmel

Some of Malta’s most established actors will be getting together to form a formidable cast in aid of the projects undertaken by Mount Carmel Hospital on behalf of its clients.

Vermiglio Theatre Productions will be taking the Passion of Christ to the fields surrounding the hospital, making it an interactive and unique experience for all those who decide to attend. The fields surrounding the hospital will be replacing the streets of Jerusalem on that historical night and the audience will become part of the drama.

The audience will be guided through the main stages of the passion of Jesus, leading to the crucifixion. A number of natural spots will serve as backdrops to the scenes and monologues, which bring the events to the audience in a realistic and personal manner. The play presents the passion of Jesus Christ in such a way as to make the audience feel and experience the happenings on that day in Jerusalem.

“The way we are presenting the play is intended to make those who attend feel as if they were part of the crowd witnessing the last two days in the life of Jesus prior to his resurrection. It is for this reason that we have not made any use of amplification throughout the walk,” said director Alan Fenech, who is also playing Jesus.

The cast includes a number of established actors whose faces are familiar to those who follow local theatre and television productions.

The play will be held on Wednesday at 7.30pm and on Thursday at 7pm. Entrance is by donation, with all proceeds going towards the Mount Carmel projects.

For more information and bookings, call on 2330 4223 or send an e-mail to ilmixja@gmail.com.