Booking is now open for two major upcoming productions that are soon to thrill audiences at Malta’s national theatre.

Teatru Manoel will present William Shakespeare’s great tragedy Othello between 12-15 May and its first in-house musical theatre production, the highly acclaimed Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, from 17-24 July 2022.

“Both Othello and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street are going to be defining moments of the season at the Manoel,” says Teatru Manoel CEO Massimo Zammit. “Each have incredible casts already in rehearsal, preparing to respectively bring to life one of Shakespeare’s most revered tragedies and an international hit musical by the late great Stephen Sondheim, for audiences in Malta to experience first-hand.”

Adapted, abridged and directed by Ian Moore, Teatru Manoel’s production of Othello will stay true to the Bard’s classic text, while telling the enduring story of passion, jealousy and race through contemporary staging. British actor Shawn John stars as the Venetian general Othello, with Greta Agius as his beautiful wife Desdemona, and Edward Caruana Galizia as the villainous Iago. The impressive supporting cast includes Alex Weenink, Kyle Borg, Kay Dimech, Stephen Oliver, Simone Ellul, Polly March and Matthew Grech.

Produced in tribute to musical theatre legend Stephen Sondheim who died late last year, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street likewise features a superb cast directed by Lucienne Camilleri, with musical direction by Ryan Paul Abela. Roger Tirazona leads as the murderous barber himself, Sweeney Todd, joined by Kateriana Fenech as Mrs Lovett alongside Stephen Oliver, Jasmine Farrugia, Ryan Grech, Gianluca Cilia, Noel Zarb, Stefania Grech Vella and Karl Bartolo.

The Teatru Manoel production – its first in-house musical – builds on the international success of the original musical with music and lyrics by Sondheim and book by Hugo Wheeler. Based on Christopher Bond’s 1973 play, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street opened on Broadway in 1979 and in the West End in 1980, winning multiple Tony Awards including that for Best Musical and the Olivier Award for Best New Musical.

Book your tickets to watch Othello and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street today at www.teatrumanoel.mt.

Teatru Manoel’s Othello will take place on 12 May at 7.30pm for a public dress rehearsal, with following performances on 13 May at 7.30pm, 14 May at 3pm and 7.30pm, and 15 May 2022 at 3pm and 7.30pm. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street will be performed at Teatru Manoel on 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 July 2022 at 8pm, on 23 July at 3pm and 8pm, and on 24 July at 3pm and 8pm. Both productions are suitable for audience members aged twelve and above and adhere to current public health recommendations. Tickets are available via email to bookings@teatrumanoel.mt, by telephone to (+356) 21246389 or online at www.teatrumanoel.mt.

Photo Credits: 

Sweeney Todd photos by Neil Grech

Othello photos by Sebio Aquilina