by InTrieste
For one night only, Italian writer and performer Mauro Covacich will bring his Trilogia Triestina to the stage of the Politeama Rossetti on February 27. The event, described as a “literary marathon,” will feature Covacich performing three monologues—Svevo, Joyce, and Saba—in a single evening, offering audiences an immersive journey through the literary heritage of Trieste.
The trilogy, produced by the Teatro Stabile del Friuli Venezia Giulia, has been performed individually across Italy since 2021, including a live broadcast on Rai Radio 3 and select performances abroad. The monologues have also been compiled into a book, Trilogia Triestina, published by La Nave di Teseo, which has been available in bookstores since early February.
Covacich, an accomplished novelist and essayist, has long drawn inspiration from Trieste’s literary past. His latest performance intertwines the legacies of three of the city’s most celebrated authors: Italo Svevo, James Joyce, and Umberto Saba. The event will also include culinary elements inspired by literary references, with refreshments such as local wines and Irish beer accompanying intermissions between the monologues.
“I’ve run several marathons, but never finished one in under three hours,” Covacich said. “I doubt I’ll manage this one either, but I want to reassure the audience—there will be excellent refreshments.” He noted that performing the monologues separately allowed him to recognize deeper thematic connections among the three authors, leading to the idea of presenting them as a unified work.
The performance aims to offer more than a literary retrospective. “Svevo, Joyce, and Saba are foundational figures for Trieste,” Covacich added. “Sometimes we take pride in them, other times we fear them, or even take them for granted. But they are part of the city’s very identity. Revisiting them together allows us to reclaim their influence—or perhaps discover them anew.”
The structure of the evening reflects Covacich’s perspective. Svevo, originally directed by Franco Però, examines the complexities of Italo Svevo’s work in the broader context of European literature, aiming to challenge conventional interpretations. Joyce, developed with Massimo Navone, explores the Irish writer’s presence in Trieste and his approach to language, portraying him as both an avant-garde intellectual and a craftsman of words. Saba, directed by Alberto Giusta, presents the poet’s deep yet fraught relationship with his hometown, illustrating his role in shaping the city’s literary landscape.
The event is scheduled for Thursday, February 27, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available through the Teatro Stabile del Friuli Venezia Giulia’s usual sales channels. Additional information can be found at www.ilrossetti.it or by calling 040.3593511.
