Ninety per cent of the 78 theatre spaces in Malta and Gozo are located outside Valletta, the first audit of theatres unveiled yesterday shows.

Only 37 per cent of theatres are public with the majority – 45 per cent – belonging to the Church, while the remaining 18 per cent are privately owned.

The audit, Spazji Teatrali - A Catalogue of Theatres in Malta and Gozo, was commissioned by the Arts Council Malta and implemented by the Valletta 2018 Foundation. The book was edited by Glen Farrugia and co-authored by Vicki Ann Cremona, Ruben Paul Borg, Keith Chetcuti and Sean Buhagiar.

The catalogue lists and describes the physical characteristics and technical equipment of the different venues across the Maltese islands that are used to host theatrical or musical productions.

The book offers a comprehensive profile of most of the venues, from the well-known spaces to the less popular theatres.

A two-day informal forum on current issues in Maltese theatre, entitled Taħdita Teatru, is being organised today and tomorrow as a platform for debate on the remit of Teatru Malta.

Also part of the programme is Manoel, Iftaħli, a series of free one-hour tours of Manoel Theatre on 26 and 27 March.

The tours are being organised in collaboration with Manoel Theatre.

Amended at 7.12pm - A previous version failed to list Glen Farrugia as the book's editor.