‘HOMESICK’ Performance Explores Malta’s Disappearing Nature
A new performance titled “HOMESICK” is set to take audiences on an emotional and physical journey through Malta’s disappearing natural landscapes.
The movement-based work, written and directed by Diellza Ilgner and choreographed by Luke Bugeja Gauci, explores the growing tension between urban expansion and the human need for connection to nature.
Performed by Carro Sharkey, Diellza Ilgner, Sarah Ng Xi Yan, Luke Bugeja Gauci, and Nicole Zammit, the piece delves into feelings of nostalgia for what has been lost, the claustrophobia brought by overdevelopment, and the frustration of being cut off from the island’s diminishing green spaces.
The soundscape of “HOMESICK” blends field recordings from Malta’s remaining natural environments with the harsh, mechanical sounds of construction. This contrast mirrors the island’s ongoing transformation- an auditory reflection of a landscape caught between preservation and progress.
Through shifting movements that range from moments of yearning to agitation, the performance traces the psychological effects of living within a rapidly concretising environment.
Rather than offering solutions, “HOMESICK” invites audiences to physically experience what is often only discussed in abstract terms: the slow erosion of nature and its impact on collective well-being.
Towards its conclusion, the performance nods to existing local environmental initiatives, recognising those already working to protect Malta’s natural heritage.
At its core, “HOMESICK” is an invitation to pause and reflect- to sit with the discomfort of environmental loss and to reconsider what it means to feel connected to nature in a world where access to it is becoming increasingly scarce.
The performances are set to take place at 6pm on 17th October at the Former Chalet in Sliema, on 18th October at the Parliament Square in Valletta and on 19th October close to the Tritoni Fountain in Valletta. The performance is open to all and no tickets are required.
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Credit: HOMESICK
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