The Manoel Theatre's bottle-green glossy floor tiles may be replaced with parquet or flagstones if research establishes that the acoustics are not affected and money is not an issue.

"Removing the tiles is a project under consideration. However, we have to focus on the priorities and whatever we do has to be based on research and documented evidence," theatre chairman Wilfred Kenely said.

The tiles are disliked by many who believe the island's majestic theatre deserves better.

Italian restorer Giuseppe Mantella said the only options were wooden flooring or flagstones. However, extensive research had to be conducted to ensure that the acoustics of the theatre would not be changed.

The subject of the contested tiles was raised during a press conference to announce the completion of the theatre's ceiling, which has been restored to the time when British general Sir George Whitmore had the theatre redecorated in 1844.

The restorers have peeled away layer after layer of green and grey paint to reveal the delightful shades of blue, which are darker towards the border and lighter in the centre - a visual effect which, seen from below, gives the impression of a cupola.

The extensive maintenance of the island's national theatre and one of the oldest in Europe has become a labour of love for Mr Mantella and Silvia Orsi, of Sante Guido Restauri, who have been working on the four-phase project since 2003.

The project is being heavily supported by Malta International Airport, which allocated Lm10,000 each year, as well as Din l-Art Helwa through the HSBC Cares for the Environment Fund.

The restoration committee said it was hard to say how much has been spent over the past three years. Just to give an idea they said that 400 grammes of 24-carat gold leaf had been used this year alone to gild the theatre and replace the layer of purpurin (a reddish orange crystalline compound used in the manufacture of dyes as a stain) in 1960s.

What started off as a maintenance project, has developed into a research process unveiling its history and Mr Kenely said a publication detailing the entire works would be published in the coming months.

Over the past years, the restorers have unveiled layers of paint to discover the original decorative panels of the frontispiece of the auditorium boxes first, and the maintenance operation of the gilt decoration and the restoration of the proscenium arch after that.

The team supported their findings with documented evidence of alterations and changes, which the Manoel Theatre has undergone throughout the years.

Built in 1731 by Grandmaster Manoel de Vilhena, it was completed within nine months for 2,184 scudi. Mr Mantella said it was important to bear in mind that the theatre then was very austere and had none of the decorations it has today.

Various attempts were made to "embellish" the theatre throughout the years, which has made the team's work more enlightening.

Mr Kenely said work was still ongoing and the next step was to complete the conservation process of the theatre's audience boxes.

The committee was also considering the possibility of introducing a climate control system for the theatre.

Touring the theatre yesterday were MIA's head of communications Rosette Fenech and Din L-Art Helwa vice-president Martin Scicluna.

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