Culture and entertainment have always been an intrinsic part of the Malta's ‘life’. The Maltese Islands offer several venues where you can experience a variety of artistic events and performances. Here is a list – by no means exhaustive – of some of the most popular theaters and venues in Malta and Gozo!
1. Manoel Theatre
Location: Valletta
Seating capacity: c.572
Following centuries of unrest, the rule of the Knights of St. John brought about a period of stability and development that was unprecedented. The newly fortified capital, Valletta, was not only the administrative centre of the Order, it also became the islands’ cultural and entertainment hub. The demand for operas, pageants, theatrical and dramatic productions boomed, and in 1731, António Manoel de Vilhena commissioned and personally funded the construction of the theatre bearing his own name to serve as a Public Theatre. With a seating capacity of 623 guests, the Manoel Theatre has welcomed thousands of patrons over the centuries. It’s believed to be Europe’s third-oldest working theatre, and the oldest one still in use in the Commonwealth Nations.
Fun fact: It was constructed in just ten months and cost 2,184 scudi (€41,714)!
2. Mediterranean Conference Centre
Location: Valletta
Seating capacity: c.1400
The 16th century building now known as the Mediterranean Conference Centre has long been one of Valletta’s most remarkable landmarks. The Knights built it as a hospital and it was known as Sacra Infermeria i.e. the Holy Infirmary. Its conversion into a modern conference centre in 1979 proved that this piece of history could also accommodate the demands of the 21st century. It is now the largest conference centre in Malta, and also houses various performances and events in the grand theatre. The Republic Hall has held stage productions which have also graced the stage of some of the world’s top theatres, these include Cirque du Soleil, the Teatro alla Scala of Milan, and the Teatro San Carlo of Naples among many others.
3. Pjazza Teatru Rjal
Location: Valletta
Seating capacity: c.806
In the mid-19th century, as opera became more and more popular, the Manoel Theatre was becoming too small for growing audiences. The new “Royal Opera House” was designed by the English architect Edward Middleton Barry, who had designed several prominent buildings in London, including Covent Garden and the National Gallery. Unfortunately, in 1942 it was destroyed in an aerial attack by Stuka dive-bombers. Only the numerous Corinthian columns and peripheral hard stone base survived. After many years of uncertainty, finally in 2013 the theatre was restored and reopened to the public as an open air theatre, retaining certain parts of its original structure.
Fun fact: with a seating capacity of 1095 and 200 standing; the Royal Opera House had more than double the capacity of the Manoel Theatre!
4. Astra Theatre
Location: Rabat, Gozo
Seating capacity: c.1200
Inaugurated in 1968, the Astra Theatre forms part of a larger musical voluntary organisation, the Soċjetà Filarmonika La Stella, founded in 1863. During these years the theatre has hosted a variety of international performers, including Raffaella Carrà, Al Bano and Romina Power, Bobby Solo, the Montparnasse Ballet Troupe and more recently, Nek, Amedeo Minghi and the Ballet Classique de Paris, just to mention a few.
Fun fact: Did you know that Malta's famous tenor, Joseph Calleja, made his debut at Teatru Astra?
5. Aurora Theatre
Location: Rabat, Gozo
Seating capacity: c.1500
The Teatru tal-Opra Aurora, built between 1971-1976 inside a regal 19th century villa, can host up to 1600 people! It has a spacious auditorium, gracely sloped to ease vision and enhance comfort during the shows. This opera house hosts its esteemed audiences in the stalls, a level of hall boxes accessed from within the auditorium, two other boxed tiers and an upper gallery. Its u-shape design, slope, architectural features, and careful choice of fabrics and materials bestow the Aurora with perfect acoustics, making it an ideal venue for operas and any other musical form of entertainment. In fact, it has been a prime location for critically acclaimed operas since its inauguration, with productions including Georges Bizet’s Carmen and Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly.
6. St Aloysius College Theatre
Location: Birkirkara
Seating capacity: c.300
The mind behind this Theatre was Fr Rector Vincenzo Furci, who ambitiously envisaged an Aula Magna, the structure of which was not commonly known by Maltese architects at the time. Costantino Condorelli, the Italian architect in charge of this project, set out a plan that called for the erection of the whole Aula, floor, walls and ceiling in concrete; a construction process which had not yet come to Malta.
The inauguration ceremony of the Aula Magna took place on the 7th December 1928, the eve of the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Since then, the Aula – or College Theatre as it later became known – has had a wide variety of musical, theatrical and dance performances grace its stage. Over the past year, the stage has been refurbished, and the under-stage area has been professionally upgraded to include modern bathroom facilities, designated make-up spaces and all-new electrical supplies running throughout the entire Theatre.
7. Teatru Salesjan
Location: Sliema
Seating capacity: c.453
This historic theatre is situated in the busy commercial locality of-Sliema, and is the oldest existing theatre in this town, as well as one of the oldest working theatres in Malta. It was built in 1908 on land donated to the Salesian Society by the Maltese philanthropist Alfons Maria Galea. Teatru Salesjan has been a creative hub for many generations and is used both as a community theatre and for national and international productions. The theatre is available for private functions, including seminars, workshops, weddings and conferences.
8. Malta Fairs & Convention Centre
