The Manoel Theatre's programme of events kicks off next week on Friday 3^rd October, with internationally-acclaimed virtuoso violinist Charlie Siem who will be performing with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Brian Schembri.

"We are extremely happy to be starting off the new season with these two stars - Siem and Schembri," Mr Zammit Tabona says, "It is a very good start to a very diverse programme which incorporates opera, panto, chamber music, jazz, dance, drama and more."

Although he has been involved on-and-off in the local cultural scene since 1988, Mr Zammit Tabona says that his greatest achievement to date has undoubtedly been the Valletta International Baroque Festival, which he set up in 2013.

"Although it was my 'baby', the success of the festival astounded even me," he tells me with a smile," "When I had insisted on the festival taking place in January, a lot of people wondered why. The main reason of course was that the baroque ensembles abroad are at their least busy during that month, so they would be free to come and perform here."

This year, the festival is slated to take place between the 10^th and 24^th January 2015 and, according to Mr Zammit Tabona, will feature the top names in Europe of the Baroque world. It will kick off with 'Nine Lamentations' - a concert of English choral music and end with the Baroque Festival Ball to be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.

There is also something for young children - the Toi Toi Children's Baroque Ball which will take place at the Manoel's Studio Theatre on the 11^th January.

"This year we will be using venues other than the Manoel for some performances, including the President's Palace, Ta' Giezu Church and St Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral," he explains, "We will be showcasing Valletta not only through the theatre, but also through its churches and palaces."

In fact, it is not only performances which form part of the Baroque Festival which will be held elsewhere; some of the 'regular' events organised by the Manoel Theatre' will also be held in other venues.

"People don't realise how difficult it is to design a calendar of events for somewhere like the Manoel Theatre," states Mr Zammit Tabona, "It's like a mad jigsaw puzzle.  We are asked to create time and place for so many events. But only God can do that! People don't understand that we have weeks 'chopped off' every year during our very short October to May season. When we remove the three-week Opera Festival in March, the two-week Baroque Festival and another two weeks for panto in December, we are not left with much more!"

Using other premises is a way to solve this problem, he says. To this end, events such as a concert by the Ensemble Correspondances, conducted by one of the world's leading organists and harpsichordists, Sébastien Daucé, will be held at Mdina Cathedral on the 15^th December.

Another innovation will be a series of Wednesday concerts which will be held in front of the stage curtain on the hydraulic extension, thereby allowing the space to be used during a two-week theatrical production.

Even with all these new ways to maximize time, it is still the firm conviction of Mr Zammit Tabona that, in the long run, what the local cultural scene really needs are other suitable venues, thus 'freeing' the Manoel Theatre to concentrate on staging the kind of productions that it is more suited to.

"The Manoel has to balance being a national theatre and a historical monument. Most theatres like ours are treated with kid gloves abroad. The last thing I want it to be is a national monument, but it is under pressure. This little theatre needs to be relieved of this enormous burden. As time progresses there are going to be more playwrights, directors, companies... they need to have somewhere to go. The pressures on the Manoel are huge. For example, having a Puccini here is out of the question. It is simply too small for a big opera. It would be like stuffing a hippopotamus in a matchbox. And staging a reduced version would be horrible," he says, almost shuddering.

Nowadays, he continues, audience members have high expectations, so it is not viable to offer them something less than what they expect.

"A world without internet is a completely different place than one with it," he goes on, "Twenty-five years ago information was not a click of a button away. People didn't have live transmissions of high-end operas at St James and the Eden cinemas. They couldn't look up productions on YouTube. People are far more savvy nowadays. They have instant access to the best of the best. Then they are disappointed when they go to the Manoel and see its limitations. On the other hand, the theatre is perfect for the Baroque - after all, it is what it was built for!"

As for drama, Mr Zammit Tabona says that there needs to be another big 500-seater theatre to cater for certain productions.

"I believe that contemporary plays need a contemporary space, not an old theatre. I think young people would be more likely to watch theatre if it was set in a more modern building. Of course I want young people to go to the Manoel, but I want them to see something that is in its right place," he insists, "I still believe that the decision to use the Piano building as a parliament short-changed the Maltese public. It should have been used as a cultural and not as a political space."

Going back to the 2014 / 2015 season, Mr Zammit Tabona has nothing but praise for the management and staff of the theatre which, he says, were invaluable in ensuring that this season's calendar of events is as eclectic as ever. People such as Denise Mulholland, the director of the Teatru Manoel Youth Theatre, Rosetta Debattista who is behind the success of the Toi Toi concerts for children, and many more who make up the backbone of the theatre.

 

The full programme may be found online at www.teatrumanoel.com.mt