What’s on in Malta and Gozo this week: January 27 to February 2, 2025
Highlights of events in the coming days
THEATRE
Id-dnub tal-magħżulin
A contemporary retelling of an Old Testament tale is being staged at the Valletta Campus Theatre on January 31 and February 1-2, 7-9.
The Unifaun Theatre production, written by Adrian Buckle and Trevor Zahra, reimagines the biblical story of Jonathan, the son of a king, and David, a shepherd boy best known for his victory over the giant Goliath.
Jonathan (played by Miguel Formosa) and David (Benjamin Abela) were close friends: Jonathan protected David from his father, King Saul (Peter Galea) who, having welcomed David into his court, later considered him a threat to the throne, and plotted to kill him, driving him into hiding. After Saul’s death, David was anointed the new king by the Judean elders.
The show, suitable for an audience over 16, is directed by Tyrone Grima, with set design by Romualdo Moretti and costumes by Michela Manduca.
Tickets are available from ticketline.com.mt.
Read more about the show here.
The Lion & The Mouse
TOI TOI presents the Lion & Mouse (and other fables), for children aged between four and seven on February 1, 2, 8 and 9 at 4.30 and 6pm.
Inspired by Aesop’s popular fable, the show aims to teach children a lesson or two with the help of slightly annoying puppets.
The participatory show promises to be fun, with a lot of heart, making for an exciting live theatrical experience.
Tickets from teatrumanoel.mt.
Two nights of stand-up comedy by Victor Pãtrãşcan
Victor Pãtrãşcan. Photo: FacebookThe Malta Society of Arts is hosting two nights of stand-up comedy in English by Victor Pãtrãşcan.
The first show, Falling in Love, on January 28, is about failures in relationships and love, while the second event, titled Stand Up-Comedy in Broken English, on January 29, will see Pãtrãşcan telling jokes while asking thought-provoking questions on today’s most controversial topics, like race, religion, gender and politics.
Pãtrãşcan is an eccentric stand-up comedian and outrageous social commentator from Romania. He honed his craft for joke writing in the London comedy circuit and has performed all over Europe and beyond.
Tickets can be brought from https://fienta.com or at the door. Students enjoy a discounted price.
MUSIC
Salotto Musicale
Barocco Foundation, in collaboration with Din l-Art Ħelwa, aims to recreate the atmosphere of a 19th-century salotto or salon during a concert at Our Lady of Victory church, Valletta, on January 28 at 12.30pm.
Sopranos Marouska Attard and Bianca Simone, accompanied by pianist Irina Fedcenko-Carbonaro, will perform a programme of works by Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini and Viardot.
Entrance to the concert is at a suggested donation of €10. One can obtain the tickets prior to the concert from the venue or by e-mailing baroccobookings@gmail.com/baroccomalta@gmail.com or calling on 7968 0952.
From left: Irina Fedcenko-Carbonaro, Bianca Simone and Marouska Attard.L’Alpino
Carlo Diacono’s only opera L’Alpino is being brought to life in concert after almost 80 years since its last production at the Manoel Theatre, in Valletta, on January 31, at 7.30pm.
The dramatic opera follows an Italian mountain soldier’s heroic journey through perilous mountains, facing battles and loss, highlighting the Alpini troups’ courage and resilience.
The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Michael Laus, will perform this work accompanied by sopranos Miriam Cauchi and Nicola Said, tenor Alan Sciberras, bass Louis Andrew Cassar, bass Noel Galea and the Goldberg Ensemble Choir.
Tickets from teatrumanoel.mt. For more information, read this Times of Malta preview.
An old poster advertising the opera.Piano Quartet
The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra continues its Chamber Concert Series with a piano quartet at Robert Samut Hall, Floriana, on February 2 at 11am.
The quartet, comprising musicians Maria Blanco (piano), Stefan Calleja (violin), Ester Garcia Salas (viola) and Desirée Calleja (cello, will perform Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G minor, K.478 and Brahms’s Piano Quartet No.1 in G minor, Op.25.
Tickets from showshappening.com.
3Ts – A Teatime Concert
Schola Cantorum Jubilate, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is presenting an afternoon concert at Ta’ Frenċ courtyard in Gozo on February 2 at 3.30pm.
The choir’s soloists Marouska Attard, Hannah Tong, Bianca Simone, James Agius and pianist Amy Borg will perform.
Also present will be popular presenter Clare Agius who will recite poems of Alda Merini, aiming to offer a fresh perspective on life.
The event also includes an art exhibition, the proceeds of which will go to the Malta Trust Foundation.
For reservations, log on to https://scjchoir.com.
A view of last year's event. Photo: Facebook/SCJThe Don Bosco Grand Concert 2025
The Gozo Youth Band, under the direction of Joseph Grech, will perform in the annual concert at the Don Bosco Theatre in Victoria on February 2 at 7pm.
The concert will feature guest singers Krista Mercieca and Fabian Galea.
Entrance is free.
MISCELLANEOUS
Wiċċ il-Karnival: Uċuħ u Maskri tal-Karnival
Festivals Malta is organising an exhibition as part of the Malta Carnival 2025 programme at Spazju Kreattiv from January 30 to March 16.
On display will be a variety of masks and busts, celebrating the craftsmanship of Maltese artisans, while exploring the intriguing question: ‘If Malta had a traditional mask, what would it look like?’.
Entrance is free.
The exhibition's posterIl-Vjaġġ
The Malta Dementia Society is screening a short film by Anthony Ellul on dementia called Il-Vjaġġ at Chaplain’s Hall, Villa Bighi, Kalkara, on January 31 at 6.30pm.
The film will be followed by a panel discussion and a reception.
Places are limited. Reservations can be made on info@maltadementiasociety.org.mt or by calling/SMS on 99451625. One should be seated by 6.15pm.
TedX Valletta 2025
TedX Valletta returns on February 1 at Spazju Kreattiv, in Valletta.
This year’s theme, Momentum, reflects the vibrant energy shaping Malta’s future and will see local and international speakers diving into topics like history, wine, tech, social change and new media.
The event will be held between 5 and 9pm. Tickets from showshappening.com.
Times of Malta is a media partner of TedX Valletta 2025.
Castrum Maris
Fort St Angelo is going back to medieval times during the Heritage Malta event Castrum Maris on February 2.
From 10am to 3pm, re-enactors from the Historical Re-enactment Group Malta will bring to life the bustling stronghold of Castrum Maris in the 1400s.
Visitors will witness soldiers in period attire and armour and learn details about the weapons and supplies essential for the fort’s defence at the time.
Standard admission fees apply, while Heritage Malta members and student and senior passportholders enter for free.
A re-enactor in a previous edition of Castrum Maris. Photo: Silvio PacePoetry in Malta
An event combining poetry, performance and community interaction is being held at Offbeat Bar in Valletta on February 2 at 8pm.
This event forms part of monthly gathering organised by Poetry Jam in Malta. Each session will begin with a few participants presenting poems within a context of their choice, often incorporating elements of performance.
Following a break and discussions, the stage will be open for spontaneous recitations from the audience, encouraging active participation.
Admission is free. For more information and updates, visit Poetry Jam's Instagram and Facebook accounts.
The event's poster