The theatre in St Julians formerly used as Eden Leisure Group's IMAX cinema is being used as a normal cinema and may eventually house conferences and symposiums, Ian De Cesare, the group's managing director said.

The theatre, which is adjacent to the InterContinental Hotel, was opened in 2000 and IMAX films were last projected there towards the end of last year.

Eden's IMAX- which used a film projection system capable of displaying images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film - was the first and only one of its kind in Malta.

"Unfortunately, the Maltese public did not really take to that kind of theatre. We kept it running for school children at special rates because it was a fantastic educational experience but had to stop it in the end," Mr De Cesare said yesterday.

"We tried hard to keep it going since we believe in the medium. But sometimes a business venture does not go the way you wish," he added. Asked how Eden Leisure planned to use the theatre once it was not being used for IMAX, Mr De Cesare said the facility is being used as Eden Century's cinema 17. At the time when IMAX was still running, conventional films were also projected in the same theatre.

"Since the theatre adjoins the InterContinental Hotel, it can easily be used for symposiums, conferences and workshops.

We might need to carry out some minor modifications on the first tier to extend the floor.

The space is there and we'll make good use of it," Mr De Cesare said.

The Eden Leisure group had also opened an ice-skating arena which after two years was converted into a multi-functional, 1,600 square-metre hall that housed parties, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) press centre, Mediterranean food festivals and a dinner for 1,100 people.

"If something does not work out with the public, it can be changed into something which is more profitable in the long run," Mr De Cesare said.