Booking is now open for the MADC and Teatru Manoel's highly-anticipated production of Christopher Marlowe's classic 1590s play, The Jew of Malta.

The Jew of Malta is a story of a man seeking revenge; revenge that cascades into a series of ever-more murderous events with disastrous consequences. It is set in an "alternate" Malta, where the Great Siege never happened, and the Knights of Malta actually pay tributes to the Turkish Sultan Suleiman, in order to avoid war.

Although Marlowe was William Shakespeare's contemporary, he died young, and had fewer works published. Yet he had a lot to say, particularly about politics, religion and society and the corrupt nature of power. He includes all this and more in The Jew of Malta and the resulting play is an action-packed mix of poetry, drama and comedy. It is a play that, although written over 400 years ago, mirrors much of what is happening in the world today.

Marlowe's works are being rediscovered worldwide and to explore his life, the religion and politics of his time, and the myriad ways in which The Jew of Malta is still all too relevant, The Friends of the Manoel Theatre are organising a public talk by Prof. Vicki Ann Cremona. This will take place on 24 September at 8pm in the Teatru Manoel Studio Theatre.

The Jew of Malta boasts a strong cast including Mikhail Basmadjian, Naomi Knight, Antony Edridge, Erica Muscat, Edward Thorpe, Philip Leone-Ganado, Nathan Brimmer, Alex Weenink, Waylon D'Mello, Joe Depasquale, Maxine Brimmer, Helen Osborne, Joseph Zammit and Daniela Carabott Pawley, with Rakelle Portelli, Luke Bugeja Gauci, Keith Dimech, Yazi Muscat, Jes Sciberras and Nicole Schembri. Original music has been composed especially for the play by Albert Garzia and the choreography is by Francesco Nicodeme.

This project is supported by the Project Support Grant, Malta Arts Fund - ArtsCouncil Malta.

The Jew of Malta will be performed at Teatru Manoel on 5, 6, 7 and 12, 13, 14 October. All performances start at 8pm; except for the 6 October performance, which starts at 6pm. Tickets at €25, €20 and €10; discounted tickets are available for students and senior citizens. Classification 14+

For bookings phone on 2124 6389 or visit www.teatrumanoel.com