The Manoel Theatre (officially Teatru Manoel) is Malta’s national theatre, set in the heart of Valletta, the capital. Opened in 1732, it is the third oldest theatre in Europe still in use. The main auditorium holds just 547 seats, which makes it a small venue, but a true institution of the archipelago’s cultural life.
Small in size, grand in decor: the Manoel’s Italian-style auditorium, with its gold-leafed wooden boxes, its blue and gold dome and its Murano glass chandelier, ranks among the finest interiors in Valletta. The atmosphere is intimate; with only 547 seats you are close to the stage wherever you sit, and the acoustics carry right to the back rows. Three centuries after opening night, Malta’s national theatre is still a living venue that performs, rehearses and hosts the National Philharmonic Orchestra.
There are two ways to discover it: attend one of its performances, the best option, with tickets often between €12 and €45; or drop in during the day. The standard visit is self-guided, leaflet in hand, and can be cut short when the auditorium is in use; the Tuesday theatrical tour, led by an actor (about an hour), goes much further, boxes and private salons included. Visiting slots are limited, since this is a working theatre that alternates between tours, rehearsals and performances: check the times on the visit page of the official website before you come. The theatre fits easily into a day exploring the capital, alongside the other sights covered in our guide to things to do in Valletta.
Good to know for a show: the acoustics carry remarkably well at every level, but not all seats are equal. Aim for the stalls or the lower balconies; the upper gallery and the seats behind pillars have an obstructed view that is rarely flagged at booking. A box seats two or three in comfort, four at a squeeze.
The Manoel Theatre is the third oldest theatre in Europe still in operation, after the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza (Italy) and the Reduta Theatre in Brno (Czech Republic). Construction began in 1731 at the initiative of the Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller, Fra António Manoel de Vilhena, whose name the building bears to this day.
The build took only around ten months, at a cost of 2,184 scudi (roughly €41,700 today). The theatre opened on 19 January 1732 with a performance of Merope, an Italian tragedy by Scipione Maffei. Almost three centuries on, it still plays its part: the Manoel is Malta’s national theatre and home to the National Philharmonic Orchestra (Orkestra Filarmonika Nazzjonali).
The most natural way to discover the Manoel Theatre is to attend one of its performances. Failing that, the guided visit takes you through the interior and behind the scenes. The theatre then combines easily with the rest of Valletta’s sights, all a few minutes’ walk away: St John’s Co-Cathedral and its Caravaggio, the Casa Rocca Piccola palace and museum, the Mysterium Fidei Monastery and its secret garden, or the Upper Barrakka Gardens and their Saluting Battery.
The theatre runs regular events: plays, operas, musicals and concerts, with tickets often between €12 and €45. Performances are in English or Maltese, and the language is stated in the programme. Aim for the stalls or the lower balconies; the upper gallery and the seats behind pillars have an obstructed view. Tickets are sold on the Teatru Manoel website or at the box office.
Two options: the self-guided visit (€10), leaflet in hand, quickly over and dependent on the day’s activity; and the Tuesday theatrical tour (about an hour), led by a costumed actor, which opens up the boxes and private salons. Backstage is only shown on occasional special tours.
| Self-guided visit | €10 |
|---|---|
| Theatrical tour (Tuesdays) | approx. €20 |
| Performances | €12 to €45 |
| Tours Mon-Fri (winter, 1 Sept to 19 June) | 11:00 and 15:00 |
|---|---|
| Tours Mon-Fri (summer, 20 June to 31 Aug) | 10:30 and 12:00 |
| Saturday tours | 10:30, 11:30, 12:30 |
| Sunday | closed |
| Performances | times vary |
The Manoel Theatre stands on Old Theatre Street, right in the heart of Valletta. Note that the entrance is not on Republic Street, the main thoroughfare, but on this quieter side street: the facade is easy to walk straight past. The capital is pedestrianised, so you reach the theatre on foot from the central bus terminus.
Valletta is served by almost the entire bus network. From Sliema, routes 13, 14, 15 and 16 run to the central terminus; from the airport, take the X4. From there, allow about five minutes on foot to the theatre.
By bus: Valletta’s central bus terminus, served by most of the island’s routes, is about a 5-minute walk from the theatre.
By car or taxi: the capital is pedestrianised, so neither gets you to the door: the last stretch is always on foot.
On site: the entrance, tucked away on Old Theatre Street (Triq it-Teatru l-Antik), is easy to miss: look out for the programme posters on the facade.
No, but not far off: it is the third oldest theatre in Europe still in use, after the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza (Italy) and the Reduta Theatre in Brno (Czech Republic). It has been open since 1732.
It is strongly recommended, and check on the day that the tour is actually running: slots are few, and a rehearsal, a show or too few participants can cancel it. Book at the box office or online, and arrive a little early.
The self-guided visit is over in 10 to 20 minutes, leaflet in hand. The Tuesday theatrical tour lasts about an hour, boxes and private salons included. Backstage only opens for occasional special tours.
Most shows are in English, many plays are staged in Maltese, and Italian appears mainly in opera: the programme always states the language, so check before you buy. The theatre tour itself is in English only, with a multilingual booklet handed out at the entrance.
The acoustics carry remarkably well everywhere, but the view does not: go for the stalls or the lower balconies, and avoid the upper gallery and the side seats behind pillars, whose restricted visibility is rarely flagged at booking. A box seats two or three in comfort, four at a squeeze. Depending on the box (4 to 8 seats) and the performance, booking is per seat or for the whole box only: check when you buy.
The main auditorium is deliberately intimate, with 547 seats spread between the stalls, 51 boxes over three tiers and the gallery. That small scale is a big part of the charm, but the best seats go fast.
Yes, two. The historic main auditorium (547 seats) hosts most of the programme, with its entrance on Old Theatre Street. The Studio Theatre, a small 60-seat space with cushioned benches, is used for smaller productions and workshops; it is reached through the stage door at 81 Old Mint Street. Check which venue is printed on your ticket when you buy.
Yes for the baroque interior, one of the finest in Valletta, but pick the right option: the self-guided visit can be over in a quarter of an hour, while the Tuesday theatrical tour does the place far better justice. Better still, attend a performance, with tickets from €12-15.
In the heart of Valletta, on Old Theatre Street (Triq it-Teatru l-Antik). From the capital’s central bus terminus, it is about a 5-minute walk through the pedestrian streets.
