33c a day to get opera house back

Playwright Mario Philip Azzopardi is championing an "impossible dream" to rebuild the Royal Opera House by getting 100,000 Maltese to contribute €10 a month for five years to raise €60 million.

"All it would cost is a measly donation of €600 over five short years for the dream to come true," the television director has suggested, adding that "€10 a month is equivalent to just 33c a day".

Mr Azzopardi's appeal to citizens of good will, who are proud of their heritage, has already generated an interest over the internet, with e-mails streaming in by the dozen, he said.

Pushing his "dream" campaign, he asked: "What would you have to give up, which costs you 33c a day, to have our great theatre back? Wouldn't you be proud to know that you brought it back - not the authorities, not the politicians, not anyone in power but you?"

Mr Azzopardi recently joined 128 artistes from the theatre scene in an appeal to the Prime Minister to rethink the planned open-air theatre in Valletta and replace it with one that fulfilled their needs.

Artistes of international and local repute, including tenor Joseph Calleja, veteran actor Lino Farrugia, dancer Felix Busuttil and University theatre studies coordinator Fr Peter Serracino Inglott, urged the government, in a hand-delivered letter, to consult them over the type of theatre that will be built. The theatre forms part of the government's plans for City Gate, drawn up by architect Renzo Piano.

In a statement attached to the letter, Mr Azzopardi had said the idea of a roofless theatre was wrong. "Having lived my life in the arts, I know the open-air concept being considered is wrong artistically, technically and environmentally."

In reaction, the Prime Minister had said he was willing to discuss the proposed open-air theatre with Mr Piano and the 128 artistes opposing the concept. While the comments about the shortcomings in Maltese theatres were valid and should be addressed, he did not think it made sense to build another one like the Manoel Theatre.

But Mr Azzopardi has already envisaged the plaque on the entrance to the opera house, funded by the citizens' contributions. It would read: "This theatre was built by the Maltese without the help of government, politicians or political parties. It is the gift this Maltese generation (2010-2015) donates to all future generations...

"Let your voice be heard above the din of mediocrity..."

Mr Azzopardi has also planned the strategy, saying the University's architectural department would contribute to preparing the original plans, discarding those of the world-renowned Italian architect.

Other organisations and artisans would be encouraged to donate their time and capabilities.

According to his plans, the theatre's interior would be modified to house the most state-of-the-art amenities, including a modern arts museum and an exhibition hall underneath.

It would have 800 seats as more would restrict the artistes to fewer performances, concentrating their efforts in one or two nights, prohibiting improvement achieved through repetition.

Students would also be mobilised to lead the campaign, reminding the Maltese to make their monthly contribution, while artistes would pledge the salary of one night a year of any performance to the cause above their €10 monthly contribution.

Mr Azzopardi said Corporate Malta would be "encouraged, shamed and convinced to donate" and the government would not tax these contributions.

The banks would facilitate the collection and administration of the fund for free and the accumulated interest would be poured back into the "dream", he said.

Even the media would play a role, promising to stoke the fire of interest in the cause for the whole five years Mr Azzopardi has already planned the T-shirts and car stickers, down to their wording.