Manoel's 'hefty' fees bring curtain down on MADC panto

The MADC has decided to break its 30-year pantomime tradition with the Manoel Theatre after the national theatre hiked up its rental fee for the fifth time in as many years.

Malta's oldest drama club felt forced to switch to an alternative venue following the Manoel's decision to increase the rental price by €11,650 (Lm5,000) in a year, which means an additional €30,280 (Lm13,000) in the past five years.

"Pantomime is often people's very first experience of the theatre and in order to make our stay at the Manoel Theatre feasible, we would be forced to increase our ticket prices - and this is something we are not willing to do, MADC chairman Alan Montanaro told The Sunday Times.

"We feel it's our duty to make theatre more accessible to more people, rather than alienating audiences."

The MADC's Christmas pantomime is Malta's longest running theatrical show, with a marathon of more than 20 performances held over the festive season, a run which has in-creased over the years as more people clamour for tickets.

Although the Manoel pantomime has traditionally been MADC's territory, the situation changed last year when another theatre company, Masquerade, was awarded the December 2007/January 2008 show after bidding for it. The agreement was, however, reversed and MADC still staged the last pantomime.

A Memorandum of Understanding to alternate the production between MADC and Masquerade was subsequently drawn up by the Manoel committee. However, under the chairmanship of Peter Fenech, the theatre decided to review the allocation process by drawing lots.

Masquerade recently filed a judicial protest in the First Hall of the Civil Court claiming that the Manoel had acted abusively and illegally in its regard.

In the meantime, a third company, FM Productions, also bid for the panto. Although MADC was picked to stage this year's show, it was only informed of the steep price after it was selected.

The Manoel Theatre has been hiking up its prices every year for the past four years, according to Mr Montanaro, who stressed that MADC is the only non-commercial theatre club of its kind in Malta.

"It is with great sadness that MADC's 30-year stint at the Manoel Theatre comes to an end - not due to competing companies, but due to the hefty prices imposed by the theatre," he said.

The club is looking at a couple of suitable options to ensure that it keeps its yuletide appointment with audiences who have made the MADC pantomime part of their Christmas tradition, Mr Montanaro said.

Next in line to produce this year's pantomime is Masquerade.

However, although he is still considering the possibility, artistic director Anthony Bezzina said the new fee is excessive.

Mr Bezzina also believes Masquerade should have been offered the panto at last year's price.

"The Manoel Theatre committee should have honoured the agreement," he said.

Edward Mercieca, director of FM productions, was non-committal when asked if he would stage the panto should Masquerade turn it down.

"It's too early to say. I haven't yet done my costings as I had been scheduled to do pantomime in three years' time, so it's too far away to need to do the maths."

Asked why the price increase was revealed after lots were drawn, Manoel Theatre general manager Judie Farrugia said: "Prices are revised every season. Prices are increased due to various factors, and the result of a board's decision."

As to why the increase was a hefty €11,650, Ms Farrugia would only say that commercial decisions are matters of an internal nature.