The Manoel Theatre: A Brief History
Today marks 292 years since the Manoel Theatre opened on January 9.
The Manoel Theatre, or Teatro Manoel, is one of the best hidden gems in the cultural hub that is Valletta. As the third-oldest functional theatre in Europe, the theatre can be found on the Baroque city’s Old Theatre Street, which was named after the theatre itself. It is somewhat easy to miss when walking through the halls, given its Mannerist façade, an architectural style that was common in Valletta at the time. However, the theatre’s interior is embellished in a Rococo style, making it as rich and vibrant as its history.
Grandmaster António Manoel de Vilhena personally commissioned and financed the construction of the Manoel Theatre in 1731. His motives have yet to be precisely determined, but it is widely assumed to be ‘for the honest recreation of the people’, as the Latin inscription ‘ad honestam populi oblectationem’ over the main entrance suggests. Up until this point, Malta hadn’t had an established theatre yet. The Order of St John would put on performances in their auberge hall in the early-mid 1600s, which caused unrest due to the Grand Master Jean Paul Lascaris Castellar’s ban on women’s admission.
Construction of the theatre was finished within ten months, after which it started operating under the name Teatro Pubblico. It was inaugurated on January 9 1732 with a staged production of Scipione Maffei’s classic tragedy ‘Merope’, the cast of which was exclusively composed of the Knights. Over the next 50 years or so, it became the venue for a wide range of lyric operas put on by visiting professional theatre companies and amateur groups alike, along with French tragedies and Italian comedies. There were even masked balls, or ‘veglioni’ occasionally held at the theatre, for which the scaffolding would be elevated to the stage’s level.
rare photo of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visiting the Manoel Theatre
The theatre was almost shut down when the island was under French rule, until it was revitalised by the British who renamed it Teatro Reale in 1812. Theatrical performances were presented year-round throughout this period, Italian operas by Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti, were particularly popular among locals at the time. Thus, the British built the Royal Opera House in 1866, which somewhat stole the theatre’s glory and nearly rendered it pointless. The theatre’s name was even changed into Teatro Manoel as we know it today, after the Grandmaster who built it, due to being too similar. However, the Royal Opera House was devastated by heavy aerial bombing during the Second World War, leading to the resurgence of the theatre.
Luckily, there was no significant damage to the Manoel Theatre during World War II. In fact, it served as temporary housing for victims who lost their homes as a result of the wartime bombs. That being said, the theatre was still in dire need of some restoration work. After it officially reopened in 1960 with a performance of the ballet “Coppelia,” a Management Committee was established.
Since then, the theatre has served as a venue for a number of productions, including operas, pantomimes, musical recitals, dramas, and ballets. Today, it is home to the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, and the country’s national theatre.
