Manoel Theatre
A small oval theatre of 1731 in Valletta, among the oldest still working in Europe.
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The Manoel was built in 1731 at the expense of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, who paid for it himself for the honest recreation of the people, and it has been in more or less continuous use since, which makes it one of the oldest working theatres in Europe. The auditorium is small and oval with three tiers of boxes in gilded wood and a painted ceiling, seating around six hundred. Tours run in the day and the season runs from autumn to spring.
What you actually see
- The oval auditorium - three tiers of gilded wooden boxes around a small oval.
- The painted ceiling - the decorated dome above the auditorium.
- The 1731 date - among the oldest theatres in Europe still in regular use.
- The backstage tour - the working parts of the building shown on daytime visits.
When to go
The performance season runs from October to May. Daytime tours run through the year at set times. Rehearsals can close the auditorium to tours without notice.
Honest expectations
Tours are short and rehearsals sometimes cancel them. Sightlines from the upper boxes are poor. The building is small and the visit is brief unless a performance is attended.
Nearby
The Grand Master's Palace is nearby, and St John's Co-Cathedral is south.
What to pack for Manoel Theatre
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
