by InTrieste
The acclaimed theatrical production by Simone Cristicchi will be staged twice inside Gemona’s restored cathedral, with a free evening performance open to the public.
Orcolat ’76, the theatrical work by Italian singer-songwriter and actor Simone Cristicchi inspired by the 1976 Friuli earthquake, will return to Gemona del Friuli on Sept. 15 as part of commemorations marking the 50th anniversary of the disaster’s second major seismic shock.
The production, first performed a decade ago, will be presented in two performances inside the Duomo of Santa Maria Assunta: a 5 p.m. institutional event and a 9 p.m. public performance. Admission to the evening show will be free, with advance reservations opening Sept. 1 through the regional theater organization’s website.
Regional officials announced the event in Udine, describing the return of the production to Gemona as both a cultural and symbolic tribute to one of the communities most deeply affected by the earthquake. The cathedral itself, painstakingly reconstructed after collapsing during the 1976 disaster, remains one of the most visible symbols of Friuli’s post-earthquake recovery.
Mario Anzil, vice governor of Friuli Venezia Giulia and regional councillor for culture, said the cathedral was the most meaningful setting for the performance because its restored stones bear witness to the events the play recounts. He also highlighted the production’s strong regional identity, featuring the Orchestra and Choir of Friuli Venezia Giulia alongside music composed by Maestro Valter Sivilotti.
Produced by Edit Eventi in collaboration with the Regional Theater Organization of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Municipality of Gemona, Orcolat ’76 combines Cristicchi’s narration with live music to explore the human experience of the earthquake, its devastation and the resilience of the Friulian people.
Barbara Zilli, the region’s finance councillor, said the performance tells a story of grief, determination and gratitude half a century after the disaster, transforming collective memory into a message of hope for future generations. She noted that the production had also resonated with Friulian communities abroad during presentations earlier this year in Washington and Toronto, where performances sold out during the region’s institutional mission to North America.
In a recorded video message, Cristicchi thanked organizers and described the work as both a remembrance of loss and a celebration of rebirth. The story, he said, has become an example of resilience recognized not only across Italy but internationally.
Following the Gemona performances, Orcolat ’76 will tour five additional towns in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region as part of the 2026 Ert theater season, with scheduled performances in Latisana, Sacile, Maniago, Grado and Artegna between Oct. 20 and Oct. 24.
