A group of BOV employees, accompanied by their family and friends, spent a Sunday afternoon discovering the marvels of the Manoel Theatre.
The visit started off with an introduction about the building itself. Salvu Mallia, who had worked at the theatre for years, took the children and their parents on a journey back in time, tracing the history of the theatre from its origins in 1731 when Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena commissioned and personally funded the construction of the building to provide people with ‘honest entertainment’.
He mentioned the role the theatre played in the Maltese insurgence against the French and the series of alterations the building underwent under the British rule.
Once the Opera House was built, the theatre practically became a doss house for beggars, then a dance hall and eventually a cinema. Restored to its former glory in 1960, it was officially inaugurated as the country’s national theatre.
The children present were mesmerised listening to stories about ghosts haunting the theatre and going backstage to take in the view of the auditorium from the stage. Equally fascinating was going down into the belly of the theatre and going through the cold underground rooms.
The tour included a visit to the theatre’s museum.
Charles Azzopardi, the bank’s head of PR and marketing, said: “Watching the fascination on the faces of our employees as they took in the eventful history of this incredible place made the visit worthwhile. We have been collaborating with the Manoel Theatre for a number of years now.”
The visit was brought to a close by a PikUZi show in the new wing. Pik and Zi are two teenage girls around whom a series of plays in Maltese is spun.
Their stories address serious concerns young children may face, but they are tackled in a simple and engaging fashion. PikUZi is an integral part of the Toi Toi Education Programme, which the bank has been supporting for the past years.
The theatre’s CEO Ray Attard said: “The theatre’s Toi Toi programme was set up with the aim of attracting new and younger audiences to the cultural scene. It represents the evolution of the Manoel Theatre and its outreach to a broader section of the Maltese population in today’s world.”
For more information, visit http://www.teatrumanoel.com.mt or call 2124 6389.