Manoel Theatre launches drama policy for Maltese works

Following recent criticism in the press on a lack of original Maltese works staged at the Manoel Theatre, a drama policy has been drawn up to favour the production of original works by local drama groups and playwrights.

The policy, issued by the Manoel Theatre last week, outlines the procedure to be adopted in the 2003/4 season. From next month to December playwrights and drama groups may apply to stage one or more works as Manoel Theatre productions. These will be shortlisted for submission to a drama sub-committee. A management committee will then decide on two works to be produced during the following season.

Speaking at a press conference launching the Manoel Theatre's new cultural calendar, Paul Xuereb, drama sub-committee chairman, augured the new policy will prove beneficial. "We would be delighted to discover what Maltese playwrights and drama groups have to offer," he said.

Dr Xuereb stressed that the theatre has to maintain standards. "We want to stage the best works. The theatre is a cultural icon and its patrons want to see a good play. We would never stage anything. Some people may be getting paranoid about what is happening at the Manoel."

Manoel Theatre committee chairman John Lowell pointed out that the Manoel Theatre's project which aims to give its backstage a make-over is currently gaining momentum with the completion of apartments to host foreign directors and performers. Plans to set up a wardrobe area and newly refurbished rehearsal and dressing rooms are in the pipeline.

Mr Lowell said that in a bid to facilitate booking, the Manoel Theatre has also implemented an on-line booking system. It may be accessed at www.teatrumanoel.com.

Kenneth Vella, the mind behind the new booking system, said that the site, to be completed in the coming weeks, is designed to provide easier access to information on works being staged and to give Maltese and foreign patrons leeway to book in advance.

The Manoel Theatre is in fact gaining increased popularity overseas. It was given ample prominence in last June's Opera publication. Erica Jeal described the Manoel Theatre as: "A gem of a venue tucked away in the heart of Valletta. It's the oldest enclosed, working theatre in the world after that on the Dalmatian island of Hvar and the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza."

Mr Lowell added that the Manoel Theatre is currently being promoted abroad. "By staging the Manoel Theatre Baroque Festival and the BoV Opera Festival we aim to compete with festivals abroad. The new cultural calendar, with the assistance of the British High Commission and the Malta Tourism Authority, has already been promoted in London. We intend to do the same next year in Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

Tony Cassar Darien, Manoel Theatre artistic director, outlined the theatre's cultural calendar for the new season. The new programme is a mélange of orchestral, chamber and vocal music, opera and musicals, dance and drama.

Dance lovers will have the opportunity to watch Swan Lake performed by the Ballet Classique de Paris to music by Tchaikovsky. Francesca Tranter's Contact Dance Company this year will be teaming up with the Jan Pusch Company from Germany and the Jasmine Vardimon Dance Company from the UK.

Flamenco aficionados cannot miss Flamenco Fusion in which Rosanna Maya will perform together with distinguished members from Spain's National Ballet Company.

The new season promises the staging of three renowned musicals - Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music, Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate and Kander and Ebb's Cabaret. The Valletta Dramatic Company will stage Die Fledermaus and Gozo's Chorus Urbanus will present Frans Lehar's The Merry Widow.

Plays in English will include the all-time classic The Glass Menagerie, Wife Begins at Forty and contemporary works Dinner With Friends and the much acclaimed Proof.

A Maltese translation of Othello and of Così Fan Tutte and Bejn Tlieta Mnejn Sa Fejn? will appeal to followers of Maltese plays. Following the recent successes of Mid-Djarju ta' Sara and Tkun Darb'Ohra Mikelang, this season Joe Friggieri will be presenting Trappisti.

Music programmes abound. Miriam Gauci will perform Richard Strauss' Four Last Songs and the East-West Chamber Ensemble, consisting of musicians from the Staatskapelle of Berlin, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel, will execute Mediterranean Chamber Works.

Big names to perform include former Genesis star Steve Hackett, violinist Salvatore Accardo, pianists Young-Choon Park, Francois Chaplin, Sergei Glavatskih, Oxama Yablonskaya, guitarist Carlos Bonell, members of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Phillipe Cuper and the Hell and Lea Quartet. Local musicians for the upcoming season will include Carmine Lauri, Natasha Chircop, Marco Rivoltini, Anne Borg, Sarah Frendo, Lucia Micallef, James Grech and Tanya Bayona.

Several performances falling under PoezijaPlus, LoggaPalk, Windows on Music and Lunchtime Concerts will be staged at Sala Isouard and the Manoel Theatre Courtyard. The much-acclaimed Manoel Theatre Baroque Festival and the BoV Opera Festival will once again feature on the new season's cultural calendar.