IN PHOTOS: Il-Kbir Għadu Ġej Had A Record-Breaking Debut And Here’s Why Expats Need Not Shy Away From This Maltese Production

A musical based on the music of legendary Maltese rock ‘n roll star Freddie Portelli has broken local records by becoming the highest grossing box office opening in history.

Il-Kbir Għadu Ġej was written by comedian Malcolm Galea, produced by Balzunetta Productions and directed by Sean Buhagiar, and it’s a smash.

Opening with eight sell-out nights at the MCC on its debut run, the hit show broke all-time box office records for the musical theatre genre. 

But the best part is that even though this is a show written 100% in Malta, an expat like me was able to enjoy it throughout.

The goddamned thing has English subtitles!

I kid you not, have you ever been to a theatre production so accommodating? If not, you’ll want to try and get your hands on any remaining tickets (if there are by the time this gets out) because y’all I have never seen anything quite like an theatre full of Maltese singing along, clapping and living their best lives in such unison it made me wonder if perhaps I was about to see a crack in my vision and the title for Black Mirror was about to fade in.

I will also note that the show actually, genuinely, made me tear up at times and I am more of an emotional machine void of any iteration of human development so that’s a big plus in my books.

The best is no longer yet to come – it arrived with Il-Kbir Għadu Ġej’s opening night. Duh.

Take a look at some fab snaps of the show with the cast giving their all for an all-together coherent piece of Maltese history told in a way only the Maltese could. From the Bormla dockyards to the Black Train bar, the sweet retelling of Freddie Portelli’s rise to fame is something anyone living in Malta needs to be aware of because it is, quite frankly, one of the best things I have discovered since moving here.