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The Manoel Theatre (Teatru Manoel) in Malta is both a historical monument of immense cultural value as well as the most important performing arts venue of the small island nation. It has a rich and long history, dating back to 1731 when it was built on request of Grand Master Fra António Manoel de Vilhena… Hence its name. It is a beautiful place and European theatre afficionados agree – attending a show at the Manoel is a magical experience.
The small but pristine theatre, with its pale blue trompe-l’oeil ceiling, impressive chandelier and perfect acoustics can be found right in the heart of Malta’s capital Valletta, in Old Theatre Street.
Teatru Manoel is reputed to be Europe’s third-oldest working theatre (older than the San Carlo in Naples), and the oldest theatre still in operation in the Commonwealth of Nations.
Originally called the Teatro Pubblico, its name was changed to Teatro Reale (Theatre Royal) in 1812. Then it was renamed Teatru Manoel in 1866. The first play to be performed was Maffei’s Merope.
It is a small, 623 seat venue, with an oval-shaped auditorium, three tiers of boxes constructed entirely of wood, decorated with gold leaf, and the before mentioned pale blue trompe-l’oeil ceiling that resembles a round cupola.
Following the destruction of the Royal Opera House by Axis bombardment on 7 April 1942, Teatru Manoel was expropriated by the Government of Malta in 1956, and was quickly restored to its former glory.
It reopened in December 1960 with a performance of Coppélia by Ballet Rambert.
In subsequent years, the theatre foyer was enlarged by means of the annexation of the adjacent Palazzo Bonici, a grand 18th century palace that was the former home of the Testaferrata Bonnici family.
However, on 9 January 2007, the Constitutional Court of Malta revoked the 1958 order of possession and use in respect of this property. The court ordered that the property be returned to its original owner.
Nowadays the annex is used to house the theatre’s bar and restaurant.
Despite numerous alterations over the years, the Manoel Theatre retains many of its old architectural features, such as the white Carrara marble staircase, shell-shaped niches, and Viennese chandeliers.
Two water reservoirs beneath the floor create an acoustic environment that is so precise, that the hushed page-turnings of an orchestra conductor can be heard clearly throughout the auditorium.
The building is now a Grade 1 listed building as noted by Malta’s Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. It is thus protected and no further changes to the original structure are allowed to be made.
Today, Teatru Manoel continues to put up a broad variety of theatrical productions each year, in both English and Maltese.
The annual repertoire includes opera, musical recitals (including lunchtime recitals in Sala Isouard), poetry recitals, dramatic readings, and an annual Christmas pantomime, produced by the Malta Amateur Dramatic Club.
The management of the theatre is currently entrusted to CEO Massimo Zammit and Artistic Director Kenneth Zammit Tabona.
Many productions are regularly presented, both by local talent and international stars, and the theatre has been a major source for the cultural appreciation of the arts in Malta.
Since 1960, it has had an official Management Committee and is no longer rented out for whole seasons to impresarios as in the past.
Many opera singers, musicians and troupes have graced its stage.
These include Boris Christoff, Mirella Freni, Rosanna Carteri, Cecilia Gasdia, Louis Kentner, Flaviano Labò, Dame Moura Lympany, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, John Neville, Magda Olivero, Michael Ponti, Katia Ricciarelli, Mstislav Rostropovich, Dame Margaret Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Sir Donald Wolfit.
Visiting companies at the Manoel Theatre have included Nottingham Playhouse, the Comédie-Française and the Staatsballett Berlin (Berlin State Opera Ballet).
The theatre’s programmes retain some variety, but the main emphasis during recent decades has been on instrumental music.
Teatru Manoel Official Website
Manoel Theatre on Wikipedia
Manoel Theatre on MaltaUncovered.com
Hidden Treasures: Beautiful Theatres in Malta
10 Strange Theatre Terms and Their Meanings
Liam Klenk was born in Central Europe and has since lived on four continents. Liam has always been engaged in creative pursuits, ranging from photography and graphic design, to writing short stories and poetry, to working in theatre and shows. In 2016, Liam published his first book and memoir, 'Paralian'.
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