A special night at Strada Stretta in Valletta with an emphasis on the book by George Cini titled Strada Stretta: It-Triq Li Darba Xeghlet ­il-Belt will be held by Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit with backing by ­Farsons on Saturday at 7 p.m.

The event will be held along the stretch between Old Theatre and Archbishop streets.

The evening sets out to be an inviting fusion of memories and music with the latter part provided by 85-year-old pianist Frank Camilleri Il-Bibi, who used to play in Strait Street, and effusive numbers by the Kabuni Guns Burlesque troupe.

Apart from featuring a fountain of research, the book’s main thrust consists of a series of interviews with several of the main actors who staged a regular act along the famous alley.

Strung together, these interviews reveal the essence of how life was lived during a good part of the last century along The Gut as British serviceman called this boisterous strip of wine, women and song.

When contacted, the author George Cini said he was overwhelmed by the impact the book had made.

“People from all strata of society have either emailed or called me to say what a great stream of nostalgia the book opened up.

“A comment that sticks in mind was that by Professor Mario Buhagiar, head of Department of the History of Art at the Faculty of Arts, University of Malta, who told me that the book had ‘held me spellbound and the animated watercolours by Paul Caruana were a most pleasant revelation’.” Mr Caruana will be exhibiting a painting that he did specifically for this event.

The evening starts with an introduction by Rev. Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott from Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit which is working extremely hard to rehabilitate this famous alley, an ­interview with George Cini and reading of excerpts from the book by Celaine Buhagiar and George Peresso.

Frederick Galea from Farsons will wrap up the evening on the relationship of the prime brewery with the lively business that went on in Strada Stretta during its heyday.

For most servicemen Farsons beers were household names.

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