Prague National Theatre dancers at Manoel

Sixteen dancers from the National Theatre of Prague's ballet company are to give an unmissable performance at the Manoel Theatre on Friday.

The performance will include excerpts from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Gabriel Fauré's Quatuor and Nocturno, and Bach's The Monastery.

Friday's performance is the first event to be organised following a collaboration agreement between Prague's theatre and the Manoel, and will give Maltese theatregoers a taste of the performances enjoyed in Prague.

The cultural agreement was signed during President Eddie Fenech Adami's state visit to the Czech Republic at the beginning of the year, Tonio Casapinta, honorary consul of the Czech Republic, explained.

Addressing a press briefing yesterday, Manoel Theatre chairman Wilfred Kenely said the Czech Republic was very rich in the performing arts, and such an agreement would give added value to what is presented at the national theatre.

The agreement will also allow Maltese talent access to the prestigious Prague theatre in the future. But exchange performances are only the tip of the iceberg as the agreement allows for several opportunities.

Manoel Theatre general manager Judie Farrugia said the local theatre's staff can learn a lot from their Czech counterparts. Mr Kenely added that the agreement also aimed to see that knowledge was shared.