Plays in English and Maltese punctuate the Manoel Theatre season from October to May, with a diverse programme of drama, opera, musicals, chamber music, jazz and pop.

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will start the season on October 3, with internationally acclaimed violinist Charlie Siem under the baton of conductor Brian Schembri.

Toi Toi, the theatre’s education programme, is entering its fourth year. Alongside the concerts for children, this season includes premieres of dance performances and plays in Maltese, written especially for the programme.

Arts education consultant Rosetta Debattista said that this year, Toi Toi aimed to reach the elderly at retirement homes as well as children’s hospital wards.

Malta’s national theatre has been going through several restoration works, including on the antique marble staircase, a new board room and specially designed chairs for the boxes.

Its facade is currently being restored to match its former 1731 glory when it was built by Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena.

Chairman Michael Grech said the theatre will be fully acclimatised by 2017. The cost, which he hopes will be derived from EU funds, will total €1 million. Completing the acclimatisation project means that the season would be able to extend from September to July.

Last year, the Manoel Theatre experienced an increase of 18 per cent in audiences over previous seasons.

The Valletta International Baroque Festival, which started last year, attracted some 7,000 people and 800 cultural tourists, and led to most capital hotels being fully booked in January.

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said that ever since the theatre was re-acquired by the government in 1957, it had gone from strength to strength.

“The theatre had the reputation of being inaccessible and elitist, but as the programme attests, there is a wide variety of artistic pieces.

“You can also see world class performers for a fraction of the price you would pay overseas.”

For more information, visit www.teatrumanoel.com.mt.