The Manoel Theatre

The Manoel Theatre or Il- Manoel, as it is simply referred to, is a theatre and important venue of performing arts in Malta. It is named after Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller, Fra António Manoel de Vilhena, who ordered its construction in 1731. The theatre is said to be Europe’s third-oldest working theatre, and the oldest theatre still in operation in the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Manoel Theatre is located on Old Theatre Street in Valletta. It is the country’s national theatre and the home of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra . It was originally called the Teatro Pubblico, but was renamed Teatro Reale, or Theatre Royal in 1812. Its name was again changed to Manoel Theatre in 1866. The first play to be performed here was Maffei’s Merope on the 9th of January, 1732

The Manoel Theatre has a plain façade, in keeping with Valletta’s Mannerist style, and has three floors with a mezzanine-level above the ground floor. The façade includes a doorway surmounted by a stone balustraded open balcony, which is supported by three heavy scroll corbels. The theatre is relatively small, with around 620 seats, and an oval-shaped auditorium, three tiers of boxes constructed completely of wood and decorated with gold leaf, and a pale blue trompe-l’oeil ceiling that looks like a round cupola. The interior is decorated in Rococo style. The theatre was possibly designed by Romano Carapecchia, and was built by Francesco Zerafa and Antonio Azzopardi. Construction was finished in only ten months.

In the 19th century, the much-larger Royal Opera House was built, making the Manoel Theatre useless. However the Opera House was completely destroyed during the Second World War and the Manoel Theatre was turned back to life. Despite numerous alterations over the years, the Manoel Theatre still 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.

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, poetry recitals and an annual Christmas pantomime. The theatre is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. It’s an attraction well worth visiting.

Photo credit: Elisa von Brockdorff – art & photography