Manoel Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Manoel Theatre is reputed to be Europe's third-oldest working theatre, and the oldest working theatre in the Commonwealth of Nations
. Located on Old Theatre Street (Triq it-Teatru l-Antik) in Valletta
, it is now Malta
's National Theatre and home to the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra
(Orkestra Filarmonika Nazzjonali).
, three tiers of boxes constructed entirely of wood and decorated with 22-carat gold leaf, and a pale blue, trompe-l'oeil ceiling that resembles a round cupola.
Hidden behind an austere facade that is fully in keeping with Valletta
's Mannerist architecture, is a richly adorned, glorious Rococo interior. Despite numerous alterations over the years, it 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.
, Mirella Freni
, 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 have included Nottingham Playhouse
, the Comédie-Française
and the Staatsballett Berlin (Berlin State Opera Ballet).
, the Portuguese Grand Master of the Knights of Malta
, commissioned and personally funded the construction of this central building to serve as a Public Theatre "for the honest recreation of the people". This motto was inscribed above the main entrance to the theatre, which still reads today: "ad honestam populi oblectationem". With construction completed in 10 months - at a cost of 2,184 scudi - the first theatrical performance to be staged at the Manoel Theatre (then known as the Teatro Pubblico) was Scipione Maffei's classic tragedy Merope, on January 9, 1732. The players in that production were the Knights themselves, and the set was designed by the Knights' chief architect, Francois Mondion. Management of the theatre - and censorship of its performances - was entrusted to a senior Knight, known as the Protettore. Said to have been modelled after the Palermo Theatre, the auditorium of the Manoel Theatre was originally semi-circular or horseshoe shaped, with an illuminated parterre that served as a small dance floor. Over the course of the next half-century, it was the venue for an extensive repertoire of lyric operas performed by companies of visitng professionals or by amateur groups of Knights of St John, and French tragedies or Italian comedies. Works by Johann Adolf Hasse, Niccolò Piccinni
and Baldassare Galuppi were extremely popular at the Teatro Pubblico during its early years. Nicolas Isouard
's first known opera, Casaciello persguitato da un mago, was performed in this theatre in 1792, and Isouard became direcror of this theatre in 1798, when the French captured Malta, and premiered other operas by him in it.
In 1778, to avoid scandal, theatre companies were prohibited from sleeping in the boxes of the theatre, a practice which was, apparently, common during that time. A few years later, in 1783, the Teatro Pubblico underwent considerable modification and decoration, based on a design by Natale Marini, of Rome:
In 1798, the Knights surrendered the Maltese Islands to the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte, whose commissioners radically reformed the civic governance and social fabric of Malta. For the first time in its history, management of the theatre was entrusted to a Maltese, Niccolò Isouard, who was a composer of international acclaim. Isouard's first work, Casaciello Perseguitato da un Mago, was performed at the Teatro Pubblico in 1793. Several of Isouard's own works, including Avviso ai Maritati and Artaserse, were performed at the Manoel during this time.
French rule over Malta was short-lived, and within two years, the Maltese Islands, and their crown jewel, the Grand Harbour
, had passed into the hands of Great Britain. An English gentleman who accompanied Abercrombie’s expedition to Egypt in 1801, wrote:-
Re-named the "Teatro Reale", the theatre went through a series of enlargements and remodellings throughout the nineteenth century, most notably in 1812, when General Sir George Whitmore added today's gallery and proscenium, raised the ceiling by one full storey, added eight more boxes, bringing the total to 67, and transformed the auditorium to the oval shape that it has today. Further alterations were made in 1844, when the Manoel’s set designer, Ercolani, repainted the panels on the wooden boxes and had them gilded. Another stratum of silver leaf was added to the panels and ceiling in 1906. Throughout this time, the Teatro Reale was rented out to professional impresarios, who hosted nine-month opera seasons. It was visited by many foreign dignitaries, including Sir Walter Scott
, and H.M. Queen Adelaide, the Queen Dowager
, widow of William IV of England, who attended performances of Elisir d'Amore and Gemma di Vergy
at the theatre, during her convalescence in Malta. Lucia di Lammermoor
was given as a gala night in honour of the Queen Dowager, featuring soprano Camilla Darbois. English and Italian opera and operetta were the most popular productions at the Teatro Reale throughout the nineteenth century; however, the Maltese public was particularly supportive of operas by Rossini, Bellini
, Donizetti and Verdi.
In 1861, The Teatro Reale was given by the Government on perpetual lease to Dr. Salvatore Mifsud and Anacleto Conti for an annual ground rent of £236,15, and in 1862 the directum dominium was sold to Emmanuele Scicluna for £7,833.6.8. Subsequent owners were Carmelo Arpa, a chemist (1889) and the Gollcher family (1906-7). This grand theatre fell into disuse in 1866, as a result of the construction of Edward Middleton Barry
's magnificent new Royal Opera House, on Strada Reale, at the entrance to Valletta
._elevation.jpg)
The fate of the Teatro Reale appeared to be sealed when it began to serve as a doss house for homeless and indigent citizens, who rented the stalls for a few pennies a night. However, in 1873, the Teatro Reale - now officially renamed the "Manoel Theatre" - enjoyed a brief new lease on life when the Royal Opera House was destroyed by fire. But by 1877, the Royal Opera House had been rebuilt, and once more, the Manoel Theatre was eclipsed, and gradually fell into disuse.
On December 27, 1922, January 6, 1923 and February 3, 1923, the Manoel Theatre was the venue for the first public airings of Malta's National Anthem, the l-Innu Malti
, composed by Prof. Robert Samut
with lyrics by Malta's national poet, Dun Karm Psaila
.
During the Second World War, it served as emergency accommodation for victims of the constant bombardment by the Luftwaffe
and the Reggia Aeronautica. In the early twentieth century, it was also used intermittently as the venue for Carnival Balls and, for a period of about twenty years, as a movie theatre.
by Axis bombardment
on April 7, 1942, the Manoel Theatre 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 eighteenth-century palace that was the former home of the Testaferrata Bonici family (the Marchesi Testaferrata, Marchesi di San Vincenzo Ferreri and Baroni della Qlejjgħa), however on January 9, 2007, the Constitutional Court revoked the 1958 order of possession and use in respect of this property, and ordered that the property be returned to its original owner. This annex currently houses the theatre's bar and restaurant.
Today, the Manoel Theatre continues to put up a broad variety of theatrical productions in both English and Maltese
, 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. Management of the theatre is currently entrusted to Chairman Wilfrid Kenely, Artistic Director Tony Cassar Darien, and Theatre Manager Charles Ferò.
The Manoel Theatre also houses a vibrant gift shop and a theatre museum, operated by the Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti.
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
. Located on Old Theatre Street (Triq it-Teatru l-Antik) in Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, it is now Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
's National Theatre and home to the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra
Malta Philharmonic Orchestra
The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra is the national symphony orchestra of Malta. It was founded in 1968 and was originally known as the Manoel Theatre Orchestra, where it was in residence for both opera productions and orchestral concerts...
(Orkestra Filarmonika Nazzjonali).
General
The Manoel Theatre is a small, six-hundred and twenty-three seat venue, with a lavish, oval-shaped auditoriumAuditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
, three tiers of boxes constructed entirely of wood and decorated with 22-carat gold leaf, and a pale blue, trompe-l'oeil ceiling that resembles a round cupola.
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
's Mannerist architecture, is a richly adorned, glorious Rococo interior. Despite numerous alterations over the years, it 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.
Famous visitors
Countless celebrities have graced its stage, including Rosanna Carteri, Boris ChristoffBoris Christoff
Boris Christoff was a Bulgarian opera singer...
, Mirella Freni
Mirella Freni
Mirella Freni, birth name Mirella Fregni, is an Italian opera soprano whose repertoire includes Verdi, Puccini, Mozart and Tchaikovsky...
, Cecilia Gasdia, Louis Kentner, Flaviano Labò, Dame Moura Lympany
Moura Lympany
Dame Moura Lympany DBE was an English concert pianist.She was born as Mary Gertrude Johnstone at Saltash, Cornwall. Her father was an army officer who had served in World War I and her mother originally taught her the piano...
, Sir Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE was a Russian Jewish American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was born to Russian Jewish parents in the United States, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985...
, John Neville, Magda Olivero
Magda Olivero
Magda Olivero is a soprano of the verismo-school of singing. She was born in Saluzzo, Italy. Olivero made her operatic debut in 1932 on Turin radio in Cattozzo’s oratorio I misteri dolorosi. She performed widely and increasingly successfully until 1941, when she married and retired from performing...
, Michael Ponti
Michael Ponti
Michael Ponti is a concert and recording pianist.-Life and career:Ponti was born in Germany, but has lived in the United States for most of his life...
, Katia Ricciarelli
Katia Ricciarelli
-Biography:Born at Rovigo, Veneto, to a very poor family, she struggled during her younger years when she studied music.She studied at the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Venice, won several vocal competitions in 1968, and made her professional debut as Mimì in La bohème in Mantua in 1969,...
, Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, KBE , known to close friends as Slava, was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He is widely considered to have been the greatest cellist of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest of...
, Dame Margaret Rutherford
Margaret Rutherford
Dame Margaret Taylor Rutherford DBE was an English character actress, who first came to prominence following World War II in the film adaptations of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, and Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest...
, Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
Kiri Te Kanawa
Dame Kiri Jeanette Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE, AC is a New Zealand / Māori soprano who has had a highly successful international opera career since 1968. Acclaimed as one of the most beloved sopranos in both the United States and Britain she possesses a warm full lyric soprano voice, singing a wide array...
and Sir Donald Wolfit
Donald Wolfit
Sir Donald Wolfit, KBE was a well-known English actor-manager.-Biography:Wolfit, who was "Woolfitt" at birth was born at New Balderton, near Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire and attended the Magnus Grammar School and made his stage début in 1920...
. Visiting companies have included Nottingham Playhouse
Nottingham Playhouse
The Nottingham Playhouse is a theatre in Nottingham, England. It was first established as a repertory theatre in the 1950s when it operated from a former cinema. Directors during this period included Val May and Frank Dunlop.-The building:...
, the Comédie-Française
Comédie-Française
The Comédie-Française or Théâtre-Français is one of the few state theaters in France. It is the only state theater to have its own troupe of actors. It is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris....
and the Staatsballett Berlin (Berlin State Opera Ballet).
History
In 1731, António Manoel de VilhenaAntónio Manoel de Vilhena
Dom Fra' António Manoel de Vilhena was the 66th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta from 19 June 1722 to his death in 1736....
, the Portuguese Grand Master of the Knights of Malta
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
, commissioned and personally funded the construction of this central building to serve as a Public Theatre "for the honest recreation of the people". This motto was inscribed above the main entrance to the theatre, which still reads today: "ad honestam populi oblectationem". With construction completed in 10 months - at a cost of 2,184 scudi - the first theatrical performance to be staged at the Manoel Theatre (then known as the Teatro Pubblico) was Scipione Maffei's classic tragedy Merope, on January 9, 1732. The players in that production were the Knights themselves, and the set was designed by the Knights' chief architect, Francois Mondion. Management of the theatre - and censorship of its performances - was entrusted to a senior Knight, known as the Protettore. Said to have been modelled after the Palermo Theatre, the auditorium of the Manoel Theatre was originally semi-circular or horseshoe shaped, with an illuminated parterre that served as a small dance floor. Over the course of the next half-century, it was the venue for an extensive repertoire of lyric operas performed by companies of visitng professionals or by amateur groups of Knights of St John, and French tragedies or Italian comedies. Works by Johann Adolf Hasse, Niccolò Piccinni
Niccolò Piccinni
Niccolò Piccinni was an Italian composer of symphonies, sacred music, chamber music, and opera. Although he is somewhat obscure, even to music lovers today, Piccinni was one of the most popular composers of opera—particularly the Neapolitan opera buffa—of his day...
and Baldassare Galuppi were extremely popular at the Teatro Pubblico during its early years. Nicolas Isouard
Nicolas Isouard
Nicolas Isouard was a Maltese composer.Isouard studied in Valletta with Francesco Azopardi, in Palermo with Giuseppe Amendola, and in Naples with Nicola Sala and Pietro Alessandro Guglielmi. From 1795 he was organist at St...
's first known opera, Casaciello persguitato da un mago, was performed in this theatre in 1792, and Isouard became direcror of this theatre in 1798, when the French captured Malta, and premiered other operas by him in it.
The first impresario of whom we have record was Melchiorre Prevvost Lanarelli in 1736, and the last Giovanni Le Brun in 1866. From 1768 to 1770 the impresario was a woman, a certain Natala Farrugia. Grand Master Manoel fixed the rent to be paid by the Impresario at Sc. 320 per annum, of which Sc. 80 were paid for rent from Easter to August, Sc. 120 for the Autumn, and Sc. 120 from Christmas to Carnival. From the records we learn that when dances or veglioni (masked balls) were held in the theatre, the pit was raised by scaffolding to the level of the stage, and we find that on August 22, 1778, regulations were passed for the lighting of the theatre and corridors on these occasions, and the shading of lights, in any manner, was prohibited.
In 1778, to avoid scandal, theatre companies were prohibited from sleeping in the boxes of the theatre, a practice which was, apparently, common during that time. A few years later, in 1783, the Teatro Pubblico underwent considerable modification and decoration, based on a design by Natale Marini, of Rome:
We read that the model was displayed before the Inquisitor, many Grand Cresses and Knights, and such was the admiration, that the Commissioners of the Foundation decided to add a further two Louis, as a bonus, to Marini’s invoice of Sc. 49
In 1798, the Knights surrendered the Maltese Islands to the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte, whose commissioners radically reformed the civic governance and social fabric of Malta. For the first time in its history, management of the theatre was entrusted to a Maltese, Niccolò Isouard, who was a composer of international acclaim. Isouard's first work, Casaciello Perseguitato da un Mago, was performed at the Teatro Pubblico in 1793. Several of Isouard's own works, including Avviso ai Maritati and Artaserse, were performed at the Manoel during this time.
French rule over Malta was short-lived, and within two years, the Maltese Islands, and their crown jewel, the Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
, had passed into the hands of Great Britain. An English gentleman who accompanied Abercrombie’s expedition to Egypt in 1801, wrote:-
La Valette possesses an opera, small indeed, but neat, though much out of repair. Italy and Sicily supply it with very tolerable vocal performers, and it is a very agreeable entertainment for the garrison. It was excessively crowded every night by the officers of the expedition, to whom it was a great source of amusement. The price of admission is one shilling.
Re-named the "Teatro Reale", the theatre went through a series of enlargements and remodellings throughout the nineteenth century, most notably in 1812, when General Sir George Whitmore added today's gallery and proscenium, raised the ceiling by one full storey, added eight more boxes, bringing the total to 67, and transformed the auditorium to the oval shape that it has today. Further alterations were made in 1844, when the Manoel’s set designer, Ercolani, repainted the panels on the wooden boxes and had them gilded. Another stratum of silver leaf was added to the panels and ceiling in 1906. Throughout this time, the Teatro Reale was rented out to professional impresarios, who hosted nine-month opera seasons. It was visited by many foreign dignitaries, including Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
, and H.M. Queen Adelaide, the Queen Dowager
Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen
Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and of Hanover as spouse of William IV of the United Kingdom. Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, is named after her.-Early life:Adelaide was born on 13 August 1792 at Meiningen, Thuringia, Germany...
, widow of William IV of England, who attended performances of Elisir d'Amore and Gemma di Vergy
Gemma di Vergy
Gemma de Vergy is a tragedia lirica or tragic opera in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti from a libretto by Emanuele Bidéra. It is based on the tragedy Charles VII chez ses grands vassaux by Alexandre Dumas père, which was later to become the subject of the opera The Saracen by the Russian composer...
at the theatre, during her convalescence in Malta. Lucia di Lammermoor
Lucia di Lammermoor
Lucia di Lammermoor is a dramma tragico in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Salvadore Cammarano wrote the Italian language libretto loosely based upon Sir Walter Scott's historical novel The Bride of Lammermoor....
was given as a gala night in honour of the Queen Dowager, featuring soprano Camilla Darbois. English and Italian opera and operetta were the most popular productions at the Teatro Reale throughout the nineteenth century; however, the Maltese public was particularly supportive of operas by Rossini, Bellini
Vincenzo Bellini
Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini was an Italian opera composer. His greatest works are I Capuleti ed i Montecchi , La sonnambula , Norma , Beatrice di Tenda , and I puritani...
, Donizetti and Verdi.
In 1861, The Teatro Reale was given by the Government on perpetual lease to Dr. Salvatore Mifsud and Anacleto Conti for an annual ground rent of £236,15, and in 1862 the directum dominium was sold to Emmanuele Scicluna for £7,833.6.8. Subsequent owners were Carmelo Arpa, a chemist (1889) and the Gollcher family (1906-7). This grand theatre fell into disuse in 1866, as a result of the construction of Edward Middleton Barry
Edward Middleton Barry
Edward Middleton Barry was an English architect of the 19th century.-Biography:Edward Barry was the third son of Sir Charles Barry, born in his father's house, 27 Foley Place, London. In infancy he was delicate, and was placed under the care of a confidential servant at Blackheath...
's magnificent new Royal Opera House, on Strada Reale, at the entrance to Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
.
On December 27, 1922, January 6, 1923 and February 3, 1923, the Manoel Theatre was the venue for the first public airings of Malta's National Anthem, the l-Innu Malti
L-Innu Malti
"L-Innu Malti" is the national anthem of Malta. It is written in the form of a prayer to God; It was composed by Robert Samut and the lyrics were written by Dun Karm Psaila.- History :...
, composed by Prof. Robert Samut
Robert Samut
Robert Samut M.B., CH.M was a Maltese doctor and musician. He is best known for writing the music for the Maltese National Anthem.-Early life:...
with lyrics by Malta's national poet, Dun Karm Psaila
Dun Karm Psaila
Dun Karm ,89, was a Maltese writer and poet, sometimes called 'the bard of Malta' He was educated at the Seminary between the years 1885 and 1894 and then proceeded to study philosophy in 1888 and theology in 1890 the University of Malta.He was ordained priest in 1894...
.
During the Second World War, it served as emergency accommodation for victims of the constant bombardment by the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
and the Reggia Aeronautica. In the early twentieth century, it was also used intermittently as the venue for Carnival Balls and, for a period of about twenty years, as a movie theatre.
Present day
Following the destruction of the Royal Opera HouseRoyal Opera House, Valletta
The Valletta Royal Opera House was an opera house and performing arts venue in Valletta, Malta. It was designed by English architect Edward Middleton Barry and was erected in 1866. In 1873 its interior was extensively damaged by fire but was eventually restored by 1877...
by Axis bombardment
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on April 7, 1942, the Manoel Theatre was expropriated by the Government of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
in 1956, and was quickly restored to its former glory. It reopened in December 1960 with a performance of Coppélia
Coppélia
Coppélia is a sentimental comic ballet with original choreography by Arthur Saint-Léon to a ballet libretto by Saint-Léon and Charles Nuitter and music by Léo Delibes. It was based upon two macabre stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann, Der Sandmann , and Die Puppe...
by Ballet Rambert. In subsequent years the theatre foyer was enlarged by means of the annexation of the adjacent Palazzo Bonici, a grand eighteenth-century palace that was the former home of the Testaferrata Bonici family (the Marchesi Testaferrata, Marchesi di San Vincenzo Ferreri and Baroni della Qlejjgħa), however on January 9, 2007, the Constitutional Court revoked the 1958 order of possession and use in respect of this property, and ordered that the property be returned to its original owner. This annex currently houses the theatre's bar and restaurant.
Today, the Manoel Theatre continues to put up a broad variety of theatrical productions in both English and Maltese
Maltese language
Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic...
, opera, musical recitals (including lunchtime recitals in Sala Isouard), poetry recitals, dramatic readings, and an annual Christmas pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
, produced by the Malta Amateur Dramatic Club. Management of the theatre is currently entrusted to Chairman Wilfrid Kenely, Artistic Director Tony Cassar Darien, and Theatre Manager Charles Ferò.
The Manoel Theatre also houses a vibrant gift shop and a theatre museum, operated by the Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti.