Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1186350
13 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 20 NOVEMBER 2019 CULTURE THE annual concert by the band of the Armed Forces of Malta in aid of Id-Dar tal-Prov- idenza will this year take place at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Paul in Mdina on Friday 6th December at 8pm. The concert will be under the distinguished patronage of the President of Malta, Dr George Vella who will also present the Mons. Mikiel Azzopardi Award 2019 to the winner who will be announced during the evening. The band is under the direc- tion of Mro WO1 Twanny Borg with the participation of so- prano Celine Abela and tenor Lbdr. George Zammit. The programme includes works by Handel, von Weber, Rodrigo, Albinoni, De Haan, Reineke and Rutter as well as works by Maltese composers Carmel Callus and Ray Sciber- ras with arrangements by Capt. Jonathan Borg. Free tickets may be obtained by email on kuncert@dartal- providenza.org or by phone on 2146 2844 by no later than 28 November. Concert by AFM band in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza THE classic story of The Little Mermaid is coming home to Teatru Manoel this festive season, in a new pantomime by FM Theatre Productions. Discounted tickets are now available, for a limited time only! IN The Little Mermaid: A Panto Under The Sea, we meet King Triton's feisty mermaid daughter Ariel, who loves to break the rules by visiting the sea's sur- face with her forgetful fishy friend Do- reen, driving everyone mad, including her nanny, Dame Bormaljotta. Mean- while, Prince Rubinu is searching for his long-lost father King Barbakannella, and the evil sea witch Ursoola Minnofs is plotting her takeover of the underwater kingdom with the aid of her two min- ions, Morina and Skorfina. "WILL the evil sea witch succeed in taking over the underwater kingdom? Will Ariel get her wish? Will the Dame get herself a hubby? Will Triton get his daughter to obey him, and will Rubinu find his dad? Is there life on Mars? Is there life in Malta? These are questions that can only be answered at the Ma- noel Theatre when you come and see this year's FM Theatre panto!" says actor and producer Edward Mercieca, of FM Theatre. FM Theatre has earned a reputation for its spectacular annual pantos, including last year's Sleeping Beauty, with critics calling it 'thoroughly enjoyable… had me chuckling away the grinch in me for the best part of three hours', and 'one of the better pantos to grace the stage of the Manoel in some time'. Throughout the rest of the year, FM Theatre has also be- come renowned for staging some of the world's best-loved smash hit musicals, including the highly-acclaimed Mamma Mia!, My Fair Lady, and, most recently, a sell-out production of We Will Rock You. THIS festive season, The Little Mermaid panto promises to keep up the compa- ny's momentum with unforgettable sets, costumes, music, dancing, special effects and theatre magic, all brought to life by a stellar cast led by Edward Mercieca as the Crustacean Dame and Katherine Brown as the evil cephalopod, Ursoola Minnofs. OTHER household names will be join- ing them, including Chiara Hyzler as Do- reen, Nikki Cassar as Ariel, Tezara Saliba as Prince Rubinu, Karen Decelis as Fairy LE, Antonella Mifsud and Maria Cassar as the witch's Eel sidekicks, Renato Di- mech as Captain Barbuljatu, Joe Depas- quale as King Triton and Adriel Camill- eri as Bosun Cikku Flieles, as well as a chorus of sea creatures, zombie pirates, sailors and various flotsam and jetsam. THIS impressive cast will be directed by Chris Gatt, with musical direction by Kris Spiteri, choreography by Luisa Fenech Conti and vocal coaching by Analise Cassar. EARLY Bird discount tickets are now available for The Little Mermaid: A Pan- to Under The Sea, for a limited time only until November 30, so grab yours today by going online at www.teatrumanoel. com.mt, emailing bookings@teatruma- noel.com.mt, or calling on 2124 6389. Don't miss your chance to join an ad- venture Under the Sea this Christmas at Teatru Manoel! FM Theatre's The Little Mermaid – A Panto Under The Sea will be staged at the Teatru Manoel, Valletta, with per- formances on 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 December 2019 at 8pm and on 2, 3, 4 January 2020 at 8pm. There will also be matinee performances at 3pm on 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 December 2019, and on 2, 3, 4, 5 January 2020. Booking details and further information are available online at www.teatrumanoel.com.mt, via email on bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt, or by calling 2124 6389. The seaweed is always greener ... at the Manoel this Christmas