Theatre design expertise

I have been involved in the entertainment industry for the last 30-odd years and I have been to many hotels, theatres and other venues designed to fit in the architect's philosophy.

Not getting into the argument whether Renzo Piano is a great architect or not, I simply can point out that when stages are designed they are not really designed well because they lack the necessary basic points, whether it is the backstage area, lights, sound, flaps, curtain and other very important things, such as the type of floor that the stage shall have.

I worked in a top location which at the time had only a couple of wall sockets and I had to install the sound system. I even co-designed the theatre located at the former Medserv offices (Manoel Island) using the latest technology available at the time. And this was a 200-300-year-old building!

In my opinion, architects being architects, they do not understand the complexities involved when designing a theatre, especially when the theatre is part of major works.

I don't think that experienced stage/art/music people were consulted and involved in this case, as is quite evident in Mr Piano's design.

I am not sure about the acoustics or how perfect they shall be, especially when the design consists of a roofless theatre. I don't know what shall happen if it is a rainy, windy or scorching hot day or how one can manage a production or performance in such circumstances.

Also, I am not sure whether one would remain within budget or whether the project would be completed on time, especially when the present government is involved (look at what happened in the case of the Delimara power station and Mater Dei Hospital).

Besides, there is a big chance that a performance can be marred by noises. There might be danger of electrocution if microphones, electric guitars and similar equipment are used in a performance. In other words, I don't know whether the safety regulations that are a must in a theatre were in fact taken into consideration.

Perhaps someone who is in total favour of this vain project would enlighten us people with know-how with regard to such important matters. People like myself were totally excluded and, to add insult to injury, the present PM (Prime Minister or Piano Man) said we will have to pay for it! Now that is a clear example of democracy!

Of course, those who approve this design would start to call us names and ridicule our opinions based on hard facts and experience.

It might be (most probably) that they do not have the faintest idea what a stage or theatre is all about!