Manoel Theatre launches programme for new season

The Manoel Theatre is to follow a new policy for the selection of original Maltese productions in an attempt to defuse the recent debate and misunderstandings that such works were not being given the necessary space.

The theatre's drama sub-committee chairman, Paul Xuereb, said the new drama selection policy for Maltese productions would be adopted for the 2003-2004 season and launched next month.

In October, playwrights and drama groups will be invited to apply for the production of one or more works as Teatru Manoel productions. A selection committee will then shortlist the productions for the whole season.

Dr Xuereb, flanked by committee chairman John Lowell and theatre artistic director Tony Cassar Darien, was yesterday speaking at the launch of the programme for the upcoming season at the Manoel Theatre.

Mr Lowell announced the long-awaited news that theatre lovers and tourists alike can finally book and pay for their tickets on the internet.

Kenneth Cassar, who designed the site, said that on-line booking will be launched in conjunction with the opening of the season later on this month.

The site has been designed to enable those wishing to attend any of the season's 63 productions to reserve their tickets and also pay via credit card.

There will be plenty to watch out for with a varied programme of dance, drama, opera and much more.

Ballet lovers should watch out for the fine edition of Swan Lake with Tchaikovsky's splendid music, which will be performed by the famous Ballet Classique de Paris.

Mr Cassar Darien said the ballet, which will be held between November 27-30, was touring several countries and it had decided to start off with performances in Malta.

Between October 11-13, there will also be the European Festival of Contemporary Dance, where three international dance companies will team up with Malta's own Contact Dance Company for an exciting contemporary show.

In June Rosanna Maya will team up with some elements from Spain's National Ballet company to create a passionate dance story involving the evolution of Flamenco into an exciting art form.

This year's calendar for drama has remained as colourful as ever and will include Rodgers & Hammerstein's The Sound of Music, put up by ActReact and Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate, which will be staged by MADC.

This season audiences will also be able to watch Kander & Ebb's Cabaret, which will be put up by Masquerade.

English language classics include The Glass Menagerie, which made Tennessee Williams a household name in the US, and Ray Cooney's comedy Wife Begins at Forty.

Two interesting contemporary works include Dinner with Friends by Donald Marguiles and the intriguing prize-winner Proof by David Auburn.

Plays in Maltese will include an interpretation of Othello by Talenti; Bejn Tlieta Mnejn Sa Fejn? staged by the Valletta Dramatic Company, and an original drama by Joe Friggieri called Trappisti.

Meanwhile, this year's Manoel Theatre Baroque Festival will be held between March 2-11 and include a performance by Teatru Anon based on the play The Knight of Malta.

Mr Lowell said that for the first time, this festival, together with the BOV Opera Festival, had been promoted in London, leading to coverage in some of the most influential theatre magazines in the UK.

Mr Lowell said there were plans for next year to target other markets, including those in Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

The season's music programme will kick off next month with a performance by soprano Miriam Gauci who will bring the curtain up with Richard Strauss' Four Last Songs.

The rest of the programme features the Bruckner No. 4 Symphony which will be conducted by Michael Laus - a first for the National Orchestra.

An interesting event is the East-West Chamber Ensemble which includes musicians from Berlin, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon and Jordan. It will be held in the Sala Isouard on October 1.

A sure hit is the performance that Steve Hackett, the former superstar of Genesis, will give live and unplugged on October 28.

Meanwhile, PoezijaPlus, LoggiaPalk, Windows on Music and the Lunchtime Concerts - which all have a very strong following - will continue this season.

Delving into another topic, Mr Lowell said that its mammoth project to revamp the theatre's backstage was in full swing.

The entire works, estimated to cost over Lm300,000, include the construction of three small apartments to accommodate visiting performers.

He also said that there were plans to move the theatre's vast wardrobe from the fourth floor to the first floor, providing visitors and tourists with a better opportunity to go through the collection of clothes and grand robes.

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