World-renowned producer Cameron Mackintosh is to present a report to the government proposing to turn Valletta's Mediterranean Conference Centre into a "major" theatre and "grand opera house" within a two-year period.
The man known as the ‘king of theatre', who owns seven historic theatres in London and a home in Valletta, told The Sunday Times he would present the first draft model of the plans in a few weeks' time.
The Culture Ministry had commissioned Sir Cameron and his architectural team "several months" ago to suggest a financially viable solution for the MCC, which is one of the largest auditoriums in Malta but ill-equipped.
The 63-year-old producer does not mince his words about the MCC's lack of attributes: the auditorium is ugly, badly laid out and has poor acoustics. Its stage and access are entirely inadequate.
The plan is to turn the MCC into a 1,700 to 1,800 seat auditorium with a spacious 50-foot modern stage and fly tower. He said the grand historic rooms of this complex were perfectly situated for the theatre public areas.
In addition to the main auditorium there is space to build a proper black box studio theatre ideal for encouraging new writing. Rehearsal spaces can be created while retaining most of the conference facilities.
"If money can be found for this important project, I believe it will be a tremendous cultural asset for Malta and a much needed platform for many of the island's talented artists," he said.
It is still unknown how the government intends to finance the entire project even if Sir Cameron said the comparative bargain cost would be only 20 per cent of that incurred on a comparable new theatre elsewhere in Europe.
"My team and I believe we could create a truly grand opera house overlooking Valletta's Grand Harbour within two years," he said.
He said a big theatre on the MCC site would also revitalise the most run down area of Valletta, especially once Fort St Elmo was restored.
Sir Cameron, who has been instrumental in restoring theatres in several cities around the world, urged the Maltese to realise the considerable financial benefits of a successful show. Sales for his latest production of Les Miserables, currently on a five-week run in Norwich, have totalled nearly €5 million.
Restored in the 1970s, the MCC, which used to host the historic Knights of Malta hospital, would also provide Malta with a major theatre that could house large scale local and international productions of musicals, opera and ballet that cannot be catered for at the Manoel Theatre or St James Cavalier.
On the other hand, Sir Cameron said he believed Mr Piano's proposal for the former opera house site would provide a terrific venue for open air music, drama and opera in a spectacular setting during the summer months.
He said the former opera house site had several shortcomings, including a cramped auditorium and a lot of obstructed view seats in balconies.
"Even if a full restoration of the old theatre was economically feasible it just wouldn't stack up as suitable for modern productions or the rightful expectations of the contemporary audiences to enjoy a show in comfortable glamorous surroundings with good sight lines and acoustics."
His views echo a report drawn up for the government in 1945, which had said the Opera House was "marred by serious practical defects."
The authors - Austen Harrison and R. Pearce Hubbard - even went as far as to say that the opportunity presented by the war bombing should be eagerly seized to erect a building better suited to contemporary needs of music and drama.
He said that while having sympathy with the Maltese artists who petitioned the Prime Minister to reconsider the current plan, he felt Mr Piano's proposal was aesthetically pleasing though only suitable for open air music and drama.
He said the restoration plans of the former opera house already included a fully equipped proper stage.
Furthermore, the "extremely imaginative new shell" of the building inspired by the original design is flexible enough to open up to become an inviting public space, similar to the intimate Greek theatre out of the performance season.
"London has its authentic Shakespeare's Globe and the open air theatre in Regent's Park, New York has its Delacourt Theatre and Aix en Province has its historic old courtyard. Valletta is the perfect place to have a similar attraction."