THEATRE

Her Say Not Hearsay

The lives of three women unfold in a new theatre project at Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta between March 8 and 10.

The first monologue of Her Say Not Hearsay goes back to 1945 when working women were being made redundant. The character, a fierce young woman galvanised by the suffragette movement, rises to challenge the religious and social aspects of society at the time, which resulted in women achieving the vote in 1947.

The second monologue deals with menopause, a subject not often discussed in public. Infused with humour and real situations, it aims to make the audience think about how women navigate this transitional phase.

The third monologue delivers a chillingly realistic portrayal of domestic violence, unravelling the intricate nuances of what, how, and why this form of violence must be denounced. Through poignant human connections, it calls for a reckoning with the harsh realities that permeate such relationships.

Directed by Charlotte Grech and Angele Galea, Her Say Not Hearsay features a script by Lara Calleja, Kim Dalli and Simone Spiteri and stars Galea, Grech and Naomi Said.

Tickets are available from kreattivita.org.

Armida

Following its debut on March 3, the Manoel Theatre is restaging its new production of Gioachino Rossini’s opera in three acts, Armida, on March 6, 8 and 10.

First performed in November 1817 with an Italian libretto by Giovanni Schmidt, the opera tells the tale of the Saracen sorceress Armida, who uses her powers to bewitch and ensnare her Crusader enemies. 

The production stars Italian soprano Elisa Balbo in the lead role, tenors Nico Darmanin, Anle Gou and Cliff Zammit Stevens, bass Albert Buttigieg, KorMalta (Malta’s national choir), the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and Moveo Dance Company. It is directed by Paul Carr and conducted by Davide Levi, with costume designs by Luke Azzopardi.

The production will also feature rarely seen 19th-century painted backdrops from the theatre’s scenery archives, which were painted in Milan specifically for the Manoel Theatre.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.teatrumanoel.mt or call (+356) 2124 6389.

Aladdin − A Musical Performance

St Paul’s Missionary College is staging the musical Aladdin at St Agatha’s Auditorium in Rabat on March 9 at 6pm. It will be directed by Tezara Saliba.

Tickets are available from showshappening.com.

Danusan Ix-Xow il-Kbir 2024

Comic duo Danusan are presenting another edition of their comedy sketch show at the Junior College Auditorium in Msida until March 16 at 8.30pm.

They will interpret some of their most famous characters like Vinny il-Kaċċatur besides new additions.

The show is suitable for an audience aged 14+. For tickets, visit ticketmonti.com.

GUTZ

Teatru Malta is staging a coming-of-age classroom play in Maltese for post-secondary schools (15+) that explores young people’s relationships with power, shame and the act of standing up and speaking out against the louder voices in our lives.

Written by Alex Weenink and Kurt Gabriel Meli, GUTZ is being held for the public at MCAST in Mosta on March 8 and 9. The creative team includes dramaturg Ruth Borg, mentor Dounia Mahammad and theatre director Chantelle Micallef Grimaud, while the cast features Miguel Formosa, Miguel Samuel and Michela Galea.

GUTZ is then set to tour Maltese sixth forms in March and will also feature in a festival at the Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, from April 17 to19, along with another seven classroom plays presented by participating ETC (European Theatre Convention) member theatres from eight countries, who worked on developing eight new texts on diverse, inclusive themes written for young audiences.

For more information, visit teatrumalta.org.mt. For tickets, log on to showshappening.com.

MUSIC

Popular Classics for Guitar

Classical guitarist Bernard Catania will perform classical works by Granados, Albeniz, Piazzolla and many more at Our Lady of Victory church in Valletta, on March 5 at 12.30pm.

The event forms part of a series of lunchtime concerts organised by the Barocco Foundation in collaboration with Din l-Art Ħelwa.

Reservations can be made against a donation of €10 either by booking on baroccobookings@gmail.com or directly at the entrance of the church. A viewing of the 10-minute documentary Grand Master de Valette and his first church of Valletta in the underground cinema is included.

Journey of Reflection

A Lenten concert featuring tenor Michel Angelo Muscat is being held at St George’s Basilica, Victoria, on March 8 at 8pm.

Donations collected will go towards ALS Malta.

Women’s Day Concert

Vox Dulcis Chorale will present its annual Women’s Day Concert at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta on March 8.

They will perform a variety of genres, including light classical music, musical theatre and contemporary songs.

John Anthony Fsadni will conduct, while Petra Magri Gatt will accompany the choir on the piano. Nicole Vella will host the event.

Tickets can be booked by e-mailing voxdulcischorale@gmail.com or can be purchased at the door.

Sancti Gregorii

A sacred music concert by the St Gregory Band is being held on March 8 on the occasion of the liturgical feast of St Gregory the Great, patron saint of the village of Kerċem.

The band will be under the baton of Mark Gauci.The event will be held at Kerċem parish church, dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St Gregory the Great, at 7.30pm.

Entrance is free.

Vera Icon

A concert of funeral marches composed and directed by Antoine Mercieca is being held at St Augustine church, Victoria, on March 9 at 7.45pm.

The marches, organised by the Fondazzjoni Santa Cecilia AD 2013, will accompany reflections on the Passion of Our Lord, written by Mario Borg.

Entrance is free.

---

FILMS

Salt of This Sea (Milh Hadha al-Bahr)

The Palestinian film Salt of the Sea is being shown at Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta as part of the Palestinian Film Days cycle of films on March 5 at 7.30pm.

The film talks about how a young Palestinian American travels back to Palestine to try and retrieve the savings that her grandfather left during the Nabka and the new reality she must face in the occupied West Bank.

Released in 2008 and directed by Annemarie Jacir, the film won numerous awards, including best screenplay at the 2008 Dubai International Film Festival and the Cinema in Motion Awards at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

Certified 12, it will be shown in Arabic with English subtitles. Entrance is free but tickets need to be reserved via kreattivita.org.

Lithuanian Film Days

Spazju Kreattiv is hosting three days of films from Lithuania between March 8 and 10.

Remember to Blink, certified 15, on March 8 at 7.30pm is about a French couple who adopt a brother and sister from Lithuania. Their life is soon disturbed by cultural differences, contradictory upbringing methods and rivalry for the kids’ affection.

A programme of children’s short films will follow on March 9 at 11am and the films The Girl and The Echo, certified 12+ on March 10 at 5.30pm and Together Forever, certified 15, on March 10 at 7.30pm. The Girl and The Echo is about a boy and a girl who meet while on vacation whose relationship is ruined by bullies, while the latter film is about a seemingly perfect family who are faced with a vital challenge.

All films will be shown in Lithuanian with English subtitles.

For more information and tickets, visit kreattivita.org.

MET Opera Live in HD: La Forza del Destino

The MET Opera's adaptation of Verdi’s grand tale of ill-fated love, deadly vendettas, and family strife is being screened at Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta on March 9 at 6pm.

Director Mariusz Treliński delivers the company’s first new Forza in nearly 30 years, setting the scene in a contemporary world and making extensive use of the Met’s turntable to represent the unstoppable advance of destiny that drives the opera’s chain of calamitous events.

Under music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the opera stars soprano Lise Davidsen as the noble Leonora, tenor Brian Jagde as Leonora’s forbidden beloved, Don Alvaro; baritone Igor Golovatenko as her vengeful brother, Don Carlo; mezzo-soprano Judit Kutasi as the fortune teller Preziosilla; bass-baritone Patrick Carfizzi as Fra Melitone; and bass Soloman Howard as both Leonora’s father and Padre Guardiano.

Tickets for the screening, certified 12A, are available from kreattivita.org.

---

MISCELLANEOUS

The Big International Woman’s Day Show

Two Black Cats Comedy is hosting a show featuring stand-up comedy, drag and burlesque at Tigullio Club in St Julian’s on March 8.

It will be compèred by actress Pia Zammit and will be followed by an after-party.

Tickets for the show, suitable for an audience aged over 17, are available from showshappening.com.

Women’s Day Tour at Palazzo Falson

Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum in Mdina is hosting a specially curated tour of the museum on March 8 to celebrate International Women’s Day.

The one-hour guided tour will highlight the significant role women have played in artisan trades. Participants will be treated to a cocktail and nibbles after the tour.

Pre-booking is essential on bookings@palazzofalson.com or call 2145 4512. Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum is managed by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, a non-profit heritage foundation.

Sqaqien

An event organised by the San Lawrenz local council on March 9 will see 14 artistic performances taking place alongside countryside lanes in the locality.

The route will start from the car park of the Kempinski San Lawrenz at 8pm. Among others there will be dance, song, folk music, drama and art.

Performers include Moveo Dance Company, guitarist Mark Rapa, actor Mario Micallef, the Gozo Diocese Choir and Ta' Ċangura Folk Group, 

For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page. Attendance is free.

Malta Artisan Markets − Easter market

Malta Artisan Markets is hosting its Easter edition at The Phoenicia in Floriana on March 10 from 10am to 6pm.

As usual, artisans will be showcasing their wares, ranging from hand crafts and fashion accessories to gourmet treats and Easter sweets.

There will also be live music and entertainment for children.

Entrance is free. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.

VISUAL ARTS

Poema

A collection of paintings and sculptures by Maltese artist Dione Borg is currently on show at Art..E Gallery, Victoria, Gozo.

The artist shows a marked versatility thematically speaking as nudes, ballet dancers and streetscapes feature prominently and poetically, hence the choice of title of the exhibition.

The artist is known for the detail of his paintings and the chromatic compositions which are his fingerprint, somehow recalling Willie Apap’s technique of division of compositional space.

Poema is on until March 15. Consult the gallery’s Facebook page for opening hours.

ARTROX – Art Expo

Damian Ebejer’s current exhibition at the Carmelite Priory in Mdina, explores the Maltese artist’s versatile oeuvre that incorporates various styles and themes.

Being the son of the famous Maltese playwright and novelist, the late Francis Ebejer, exposed the artist to various artforms from a very young age and that may have encouraged the artist to follow a creative path. The artist doesn’t usually work on a series but rather follows a creative wanderlust that takes him to diverse scenarios, as this exhibition clearly demonstrates.

ARTROX – Art Expo is open every day until March 17 from 11am to 4pm at the Carmelite Priory, Mdina.

An Art Affair

An exhibition at Art by the Seaside Gallery in Senglea is celebrating diversity of art, including local and foreign talent.

An Art Affair calls for awareness of cultural influences, artistic techniques and thematic inspiration. 

Pieces from Italian jewellery brand Vestopazzo, designed out of sustainable aluminum and brass, will also be on show.

An Art Affair is on until March 24.

I Can’t Breathe

Christine X Art Gallery is hosting the thought-provoking solo exhibition I Can’t Breathe, showcasing a compelling series of paintings by artist Svetislav Martinovic.

Taking place from March 7 to March 28, the exhibition invites viewers on a profound journey, encouraging introspection and sparking conversations on the interconnected themes of brutality, environmental consequences and societal challenges.

For opening hours and more information, visit the Christine X Art Gallery Facebook page.

Inspire Inclusion

A collective exhibition inspired by the theme of this year's International Women's Day is going on display at Rudy Buhler Art gallery in Marsascala on March 8.

Featuring the works of five female artists, Inspire Inclusion challenges conventional beauty standards and celebrates the diversity of women’s experiences across cultures, identities and backgrounds.

The participating artists are Anna Galea, Jo Dounis, Jennifer Mallia, Caroline Said Lawrence and Michelle Mahoney.

The exhibition opens at Rudy Buhler Art, 58,, Triq is-Salini in Marsaskala on March 8 at 6pm, and runs until March 31. Regular opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 1pm and from 5pm to 8pm. 

Emerging Dimensions

Art educator and artist Lewis Zammit is presenting his latest exhibition of works at the Palm Court Lounge at the Phoenicia Malta in Floriana.

All of the exhibited paintings are firmly linked to questions that preoccupy Zammit such as the brevity of life and how infinitisimley small human beings are in relation to the infinte universe.

He plays around with the idea of the immensity of space, the unknown and that humankind is a mere speck in this continuum. However, Zammit’s inspiration always stems from nature.

Emerging Dimensions, curated by Charlene Vella, is open throughout the month of March.

Paradoxum

Dave Calleja  delves into the profound symbolism of masks in his debut solo exhibition at Il-Kamra ta' Fuq in Mqabba.

He here presents a series of masks, each portraying idiosyncratic characteristics. These creations underscore the notion that individuals often obscure their true selves, revealing specific personae based on their circumstances.

He thus provides a poignant commentary on the perpetual quest for self-discovery – an exploration shaped by societal norms and social interactions.

Paradoxum, curated by Melanie Erixon, is on from March 8 to 31. Visit the gallery's Facebook page for opening hours and more information.

Melita, מלט −mlṭ, refuge

Spazju Kreattiv is hosting an exhibition by photographer Anne Immelé who photographed Maltese Phoenician caves, punic temple remains, punic archeological sites such as Mozia Island (Sicily), Kerkouane and Carthage (Tunisia). She highlights their mineral characteristics, evoking their timelessness.

In echo, her portraits of sub-Saharan refugees convey the ephemerality of human life’s moments and life paths.

The exhibition, which runs until April 7, is being held in collaboration with Maltabiennale.art 2024, Stimultania France, EgliseArt Palermo, Jaou Tunis and is supported by the Centre national des arts plastiques (National Centre for Visual Arts), France  Embassy of France Malta, French Institut Tunis and French Institut Palermo.

Melitae

Kurt Friggieri's solo exhibition titled Melitae is currently on at the Gemelli Art Gallery in the Crafts Village, Ta’ Qali.

Friggieri has worked on numerous altarpieces in church halls, parish houses, private residences, and churches across Malta. Notably, he contributed to the decorative work at the Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta.

Drawing inspiration from several renowned artists, including Caravaggio, Guido Reni, Francesco Zahra, Raymond Pitrè, and Giuseppe Calì, Friggieri is known for his mastery of canvas technique and his use of different fabric textures. His preferred painting style is baroque, employing the wet-on-dry technique, which involves retouching certain areas after the paint has dried.

In Melitae, he presents 20 scenes from Maltese and Gozitan history, religious processions, traditional feasts, Good Friday, Corpus Christi, as well as landscapes and streetscapes around Malta.

Melitae is on until March 31.

Seeing Music

An exhibition of works by the late Frank Briffa (1947-2021) is on at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta.

Frank Briffa was born in Egypt but was brought up by his Maltese parents in London, never negating his Maltese heritage. The British capital, with its hold of museums and galleries, offered varied inspiration to the young Briffa.

He held a doctorate for his research on copper toxicity, however, he never let go of his interest in the arts, composing various musical pieces.  In 1998, he left the official academic world and teaching to pursue his artistic career full time. His creative output is multifaceted.

This exhibition is a homage to Briffa’s love of music, showcasing pieces inspired by compositions that had deeply resonated with him over the years. 

Seeing Music is open from March 7 to April 11 at the Malta Society of Arts, Republic Street, Valletta. Entrance is free.

Unknown Prescription

Artists Mario Abela, Charles Balzan and Justin Falzon are participating in an exhibition curated by artist Austin Camilleri Il-Ħaġar - Heart of Gozo Museum in Victoria.

The works by the three Maltese artists are set off against pieces from the museum’s permanent collection, thus presenting a dialogue between the artefacts from previous centuries and these contemporary works.

The exhibition is on until April 14. One can purchase the exhibition catalogue (No. 28 of Il-Ħaġar Gems Series) from the venue. It features essays by Austin Camilleri, Maria Frendo, Niki Young, and Gabriel Zammit.

The museum is open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm. Entrance is free.

Dream [of] Land

An interdisciplinary exhibition project combining narratives of identity, belonging and home through the blurred overlap of art-making and craft is on dispay at Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta.

Dream [of] Land brings together a body of collective work exploring the tangible manipulation of matter through acts of weaving, moulding and sculpting, not only of conventional materials but of narratives, memories and legacies.

The exhibition seeks to question and redefine the significance of matter and materiality, by regarding it as an active agent with its own historicity and potentiality for dreams and change.

Curated by Elyse Tonna and Sarah Chircop, it features the work of Francesca Beltrame, Noah Fabri, the LaLaLa Collective, Femmy Otten, Florence Peake, Sephora Schembri, Dasha Tsapenko and Rakel Vella. Margarita Pulè is the project manager.

Dream [of] Land runs until April 21. For more information, visit kreattivita.org.

OTHER EXHIBITIONS

Let Me Be Myself The Life Story of Anne Frank

The University of Malta Library in collaboration with The Tayar Foundation is hosting the exhibition Let Me Be Myself - The Life Story of Anne Frank until March 21.

The exhibition consists of 34 panels, each containing key images and texts about the world that surrounded Anne Frank, from the rise of Hitler to the persecution of the Jews and World War 11. It also gives an account of her life: from her birth in 1929 up to her death in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945.

The library is open Monday to Friday from 7am to 8pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 12.15pm. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Entrance is free.

In the Footsteps of the Hospitallers: 900 Years of Chivalry, Faith & Charity

The National Library of Malta in Valletta is hosting an exhibition about the Knights of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM).

By means of maps, documents, printed works and objets d’art, In the Footsteps of the Hospitallers traces the story of the Order, starting from their humble beginnings in Jerusalem during the mid-11th century.

The exhibition, curated by Maroma Camilleri, is dedicated to the memory of a prominent Maltese member of the Order of Malta, the Bailiff Fra’ John Edward Critien, Grand Prior of Rome, who passed away on December 3, 2022.

It will remain open during library hours until March: Monday to Friday: 8.30am to 4.30pm; Saturdays: 8.30am to 12.30pm (every third Saturday of the month, the library opens from 8.30am to 3.30pm. Entrance is free.

whatson@timesofmalta.com