Theatre in Malta 1980-1981

Abstract

Despite the considerable problem of attracting audiences, the established drama groups were mostly as active as ever, and a couple of new groups appeared as well, though their survival appears doubtful. The prices of theatre tickets rose appreciably, but this did not deter the hard core of habitual theatre-goers even if it did not attract new ones. Spectacular shows, preferably with a strong musical element, attracted the largest audiences of all. The Mediterranean Centre attracted thousands to its large Hall of the Republic to see the visiting Black and White Minstrel Show,and Norman Meadmore's production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, with John Reed as Ko-Ko and other English professional principals, was another crowd-puller. On a smaller scale, Maleth's production of It-Twajba Susanna, an operetta, was· a great box-office success at the Manoel Theatre, and the MADC's Xmas pan to also played to several packed houses at the same theatre. [excerpt]