Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Owen Bonnici and Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia visited the prestigious Manoel Theatre and announced details about a new project aiming for a better experience at the theatre.
Through this project, we are maintaining, consolidating and further developing Malta’s cultural heritage through the installation of a new ventilation and acclimatisation system, the rehabilitation of the roof, and new seating in the plateau.
“Thanks to a project of this calibre, we are sustaining, upgrading and preserving the oldest functioning theatre in Europe. Our strategy as a government is to keep on strengthening the culture sector so that it is truly appreciated by the community, whilst also further increasing in professionalisation within the sector”, stated Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government, Owen Bonnici. “During the past couple of years we have been working towards a stronger culture sector, and thanks to the realisation of such projects, we are being provided with the necessary drive to continue to do more”, he continued.
The much needed ventilation and acclimatisation system operates by passing either hot or cold water (depending on the desired temperature) through the ceiling and flooring which will keep constant temperatures, humidity levels and preferred air quality throughout the year, while at the same time limiting the generation of air currents and noise inside the theatre.
The latter will hence improve the acoustics of the theatre and its versatility in use. The system will operate around the clock, avoiding drastic changes in temperature levels, which would otherwise result in damage to the beautiful woodwork and priceless paintings of the theatre.
The Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia said that the project is one of many which the government is implementing from the 2014-2020 programme, with an investment of over €80 million in culture for this period alone. Aaron Farrugia explained how EU funds are being utilised in order to invest in our culture with the aim of preserving Maltese identity while strengthening the local touristic product. Different from past investments in cultural projects, this project is focused not only on cultural conservation, but also on the economic dimension and the need to move beyond the preservation of cultural assets and towards their effective use to generate economic activity and employment.
The state of the art system is built using the latest technology available on the market, custom-made specifically for the Manoel Theatre, making it energy efficient and environmentally friendly. This investment has adjusted for the fact that the theatre did not feature an adequate ventilation or air conditioning system. The new HVAC system will in turn allow for attendees to be more comfortable during shows.
The plateau flooring has been upgraded from ceramic to wood, which will give better acoustics when the orchestra and opera are performing. The project will not only make the setting more comfortable for the audience and performers, but will also enhance their overall experience at the theatre due to better sound quality, further improving the tourism product.
The new seating, following the fitting of new parquet flooring was designed in consonance with the theatre’s baroque style, and has been changed to better suit the theatre and patrons alike. The new seating system eliminates the central aisle and is also installed offset, giving a much better view of the stage. The previous seats had been installed about 30 years ago.
The project also included the rehabilitation of the theatre’s roof, with the main intervention being the installing of steel trusses as support for the new ventilation system.
As with other sectors, the government is committed to providing the best for the arts and culture sector, enhancing the overall experience for all patrons.