Between the 14th and 16th September, the iconic Notre Dame Gate in Birgu will host Każin Barokk: an interactive theatrical experience playing on passion, innocence and gambling, as part of the Valletta 2018 Cultural Programme.

Based on local, contemporary identities and the Maltese Baroque tradition, this immersive, hybrid performance focuses on the Maltese cultural identity, and explores if and how this is being gambled.

The audience is invited to explore the rooms inside Notre Dame Gate – a grand baroque military gate built in 1675 – today one of Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna’s heritage sites.

The audience is also invited to dwell on how we’d respond if a cast of lovers, saints and sinners prompted us to choose between passion, innocence… and gambling.

The starting point is a collection of literary masterpieces which explore the notion of gambling and fortune, including Regnard’s The Gamester (Le Joueur), Pushkin’s The Queen of Spades and Dostoevsky’s The Gambler.

Każin Barokk promises to be a soul-searching journey where art, people and robotics of the past, present and future come together to form a ‘Baroque pastiche’ where visuals, music and text merge.

The name given to this performance is a delightful play on words. ‘Każin’ may connote both a local bar as well as a ‘casino’. ‘Barokk’ refers to both the Baroque period in arts and music – a period marked by elaborate ornamentation and dramatic effects – as well as to the mish-mash of cultures, typical of the Maltese identity.

Każin Barokk takes place on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th September at 20.00, and on Sunday 16th September at 19.30, at Notre Dame Gate in Birgu.  Tickets are only €5 and may be purchased from tickets.valletta2018.org.

N.B. This event is not wheelchair accessible.

Każin Barokk is a devised performance by Elli Papakonstantinou, the ODC Ensemble and participating artists. Produced by Valletta 2018.

Valletta 2018 Premium Partners: General Soft Drinks Co. Ltd., Coca Cola, Bavaria and Bank of Valletta