Culture
A blast from the past! Maltese musical ‘Ċetta from Valletta’ takes on new life at the Manoel Theatre
The musical features several elements from Malta’s capital in the 1950s

Francesca Vella

TV and theatre producer Hermann Bonaci, known for his role on the Maltese soap opera ‘Simpatiċi’, will raise the curtain on his musical ‘Ċetta from Valletta’ at the Manoel Theatre in October this year.

The character of Ċetta was inspired by the old Maltese folk song ‘Ċetta from Valletta’, written by the renowned Maltese composer Paul Arnaud in 1947. The song tells a story of a lively, amorous young woman hailing from Valletta, and this musical continues to explore Ċetta’s past and present, together with new characters such as Ċetta’s guardians – her aunt and uncle.

The musical will take the audience through a time capsule, landing in the early 1950s, in the ‘Mandraġġ’ area of Valletta, back then considered a slum area which was about to be demolished to be replaced by housing estates.

Other notable areas in Valletta that feature in the musical are Café Premier in Piazza Regina and the infamous Strait Street – both places where the character of Ċetta attempts to broaden her singing career.

The musical stars Laura Bruno in the titular role, and several other well-known actors including Frida Cauchi and Jeremy Grech, as well as Hermann Bonaci himself in the role of ‘Duminku’.

The musical will run between the 12th and 20th October 2024 and tickets are available from the Manoel Theatre website.

Have you ever heard of ‘Ċetta from Valletta’?

13th June 2024


Francesca Vella
Written by
Francesca Vella
Francesca has always felt most at home in a cinema or theatre, particularly if musicals are involved. She loves to read, write, and share about her experiences of both the fictional and the real world.

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