Polidano scores with tourist show
Bookings are already pouring in for the Knights Spectular show, just over a month after the show moved from the Power House at Valletta Waterfront to its permanent venue at the Montekristo Estates in Ħal Farruġ, one of the latest Polidano...
Bookings are already pouring in for the Knights Spectular show, just over a month after the show moved from the Power House at Valletta Waterfront to its permanent venue at the Montekristo Estates in Ħal Farruġ, one of the latest Polidano ventures.
Guests pay under €50 each for transport, the two-hour show and a three-course meal with wine and soft drinks.
"At the moment the show is only being held every Thursday, but obviously we are hoping to add more shows as time goes on," operations manager Tony Paris said. "There has been considerable interest from tour operators but we also get bookings via hotel concierges and even bucket shops."
Last month, over 400 representatives from the travel industry, in particular conference and incentive travel organisers, were hosted at the show.
"There is nothing else like this on the island, somewhere for tourists to have dinner and watch a live spectacle. The feedback from the DMCs is very positive," Mr Paris said. It helps that the venue can seat over 600 with direct views of the arena.
Last week the guests came from as far afield as Japan and New Zealand. Many stopped to pose with the costumed actors in the foyer or to browse through the merchandise before going to their tables, which are lined up on steps on either side of the arena, with passages along each one to allow the food to be served, all on metal dishes with metal cutlery, to add to the Baroque feel. The show starts almost immediately, with 17 songs timed to end just after the meal. The show was put together by artistic director Salvu Mallia, with lyrics and music by Paul Abela and choreography by Mariza B, who also plays the lead role of Melita.
The show tells the story of the Great Siege of 1565, complete with 50 actors, fire-jugglers and belly-dancers, eight horses, detailed costumes and props, using the arena as well as the parapet and watchtower that form one end of the arena. A cannon fires and muskets blaze away, creating an energetic display that is met by continuous applause.
MK Leisure, which runs the show, has many other plans. The arena lies under the foyer, over which is being built a Baroque "palace", inspired by the old opera house, with a central courtyard.
Under the arena are the massive wine vaults, which are already in demand for corporate events, weddings and launches. And half completed is yet another hall, lying under the skylight in the courtyard of the winery, scheduled for completion within six months.
"Interest escalated very quickly and we are very excited about the potential," director of sales and marketing Henri Mattocks said. The state-of-the-art kitchens not only churn out the spicy sausages, braġjoli and chicken breasts for the hundreds of people attending Knights Spectacular but also cater for the other venues at the estates. MK Leisure recently started outside catering, the first event being one at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre.
"Food is my passion and I work very closely with the chef," Montekristo consultant Victor Bonello said. He is the man behind not only the wine but also the estates - and he has plenty more plans in the pipeline over the coming years.
"Remember when you first came here?" he said, referring to the article carried in The Times Business over a year ago, when the arena was an empty quarry.
"Look at it now. And imagine it when it is finished ..."
Guests pay under €50 each for transport, the two-hour show and a three-course meal with wine and soft drinks.
"At the moment the show is only being held every Thursday, but obviously we are hoping to add more shows as time goes on," operations manager Tony Paris said. "There has been considerable interest from tour operators but we also get bookings via hotel concierges and even bucket shops."
Last month, over 400 representatives from the travel industry, in particular conference and incentive travel organisers, were hosted at the show.
"There is nothing else like this on the island, somewhere for tourists to have dinner and watch a live spectacle. The feedback from the DMCs is very positive," Mr Paris said. It helps that the venue can seat over 600 with direct views of the arena.
Last week the guests came from as far afield as Japan and New Zealand. Many stopped to pose with the costumed actors in the foyer or to browse through the merchandise before going to their tables, which are lined up on steps on either side of the arena, with passages along each one to allow the food to be served, all on metal dishes with metal cutlery, to add to the Baroque feel. The show starts almost immediately, with 17 songs timed to end just after the meal. The show was put together by artistic director Salvu Mallia, with lyrics and music by Paul Abela and choreography by Mariza B, who also plays the lead role of Melita.
The show tells the story of the Great Siege of 1565, complete with 50 actors, fire-jugglers and belly-dancers, eight horses, detailed costumes and props, using the arena as well as the parapet and watchtower that form one end of the arena. A cannon fires and muskets blaze away, creating an energetic display that is met by continuous applause.
MK Leisure, which runs the show, has many other plans. The arena lies under the foyer, over which is being built a Baroque "palace", inspired by the old opera house, with a central courtyard.
Under the arena are the massive wine vaults, which are already in demand for corporate events, weddings and launches. And half completed is yet another hall, lying under the skylight in the courtyard of the winery, scheduled for completion within six months.
"Interest escalated very quickly and we are very excited about the potential," director of sales and marketing Henri Mattocks said. The state-of-the-art kitchens not only churn out the spicy sausages, braġjoli and chicken breasts for the hundreds of people attending Knights Spectacular but also cater for the other venues at the estates. MK Leisure recently started outside catering, the first event being one at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre.
"Food is my passion and I work very closely with the chef," Montekristo consultant Victor Bonello said. He is the man behind not only the wine but also the estates - and he has plenty more plans in the pipeline over the coming years.
"Remember when you first came here?" he said, referring to the article carried in The Times Business over a year ago, when the arena was an empty quarry.
"Look at it now. And imagine it when it is finished ..."