Following the ongoing restoration programmes at the Manoel Theatre, plans are being finalised so that by 2018 the entire theatre will be air-conditioned, using EU funds. This will enable the theatre to have an all year calendar.
This was announced by Michael Grech, the theatre's chairman, at a presentation of the theatre's performance season.
The current restoration work includes the restoration of the marble steps and the laying down of a brand-new carpet purposely made in the UK.
The façade is also being restored to how it would have looked in Manoel de Vilhena's time, Dr Grech added.
Ray Attard, the theatre's CEO, said there has been an 18 per cent increase in patronage last year compared to the preceding year. The Baroque Festival, now approaching its third year, has become a fixture on the international scene and more foreigners are booking to come especially for it. Some nights are already fully booked and a hotel in Valletta that used to shut down in the winter will now remain open to host theatre guests. As for the Toi-Toi events for children, 7,000 children attended last year.
Kenneth Zammit Tabona, the theatre's artistic director, spoke first about his creation, the Baroque Festival, which, in its 2015 edition will focus on Girolamo Abos, on the 350th anniversary of his birth.
The opera to be staged next year will be Donizzetti's Elisir d'Amore while a new initiative will be held especially for children. The theatre season will feature Guze Chetcuti's Il-Kuluri tal-Perlini to celebrate the author's first centenary of his birth. A multi-media contemporary music event will feature Caxaro's Kantilena.
The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will begin its season on 3 October, and later the Leipzig Quartet will perform Beethoven's String Quartets.
Rosetta Debattista, the theatre's arts education consultant, spoke about Toi-Toi which from the 30 events held in its first year has gone up to 100 in this third year.
Minister Owen Bonnici, concluding the launch, congratulated the team for showing that the Manoel is not a theatre for the elite but for everyone as it contributed by keeping prices affordable.