The Centro Indipendente Ricerca Teatrale (CIRT) of Milan is presenting an item of contemporary research theatre, entitled “Mexicana”, as part of the Malta Arts Festival – Summer 2006 and SUPA 2006 (Summer University of Performing Arts). Directed by Mario Ruggeri, the performance will take place on Saturday, 12 and Sunday, 13 August at the MITP Theatre, St Christopher Street, Valletta, at 9pm.

Mexicana is a studio performance work which is part of CIRT’s new line of research called “For a Holy Unity” – a project that was launched in January with the intention of investigating various traditions around the world.

As part of this research project, Mexicana is a performative study that takes its point of departure from the liturgical chants that emerged from the religious syncrethic encounter between Catholic missionaries and the native Indios population in Mexico.

The second part of Mexicana, which is entitled “Imaginary Dialogue”, has been described as the “secret part” of the performance because it is totally unexpected. This consists of an imaginary dialogue between James and Andrew, two disciples of Christ. This dialogue, which is based on the holy scriptures that were written in the early years after the death of the Saviour, marks C.I.R.T.’s first approach with this material within the project “For a Holy Unity.”

The performers are Mario Ruggeri and Andrea Fici with Jeremy de Maria, who is in charge of photography. For more information on the work of CIRT, visit the website www.teacirt.it. Tickets are priced at Lm3.