Desire, drama & intrigue! Teatru Manoel unveils international cast for Oscar Wilde’s Salomé

Teatru Manoel has announced an international cast for its upcoming production of Oscar Wilde’s provocative tragedy Salomé, which will run for six performances between 6 and 15 November 2026 at Malta’s national theatre.

Directed by Adrian Buckle, the production offers a contemporary interpretation of Wilde’s literary classic, exploring desire, obsession, identity and power through an international ensemble of established performers and emerging talent.

British actor Timothy Blore takes on the title role, bringing experience from London’s West End, as well as screen appearances in The King’s Man and Disney+ series Rivals. In a distinctive interpretation, Salomé is portrayed by a male performer as a prince who identifies and presents as a woman, challenging conventional perceptions of the character and the power dynamics within Herod’s court.

British-Palestinian actor Tarik Badwan plays Iokanaan, the imprisoned prophet whose rejection of Salomé sets the tragedy in motion. Acclaimed Maltese actor Mikhail Basmadjian portrays Herod, drawing on more than 35 years of experience across stage and screen, while Magda van Kuilenburg takes on the role of Herodias.

The wider cast includes Joel Parnis, Victor De Bono, Miguel Muscat, Barry Kolman, Francesco Borg and Karl Schembri. Movement and choreography also play a central role, with Tunisian-born choreographer Chakib Zidi leading a dance ensemble featuring Sarah Vella, Mona Fazaa, Angela Bettoni and Rebecca Grech.

The production brings together an international creative team, with set design by Romualdo Moretti, costumes by Aleksandra Idowiak, lighting by Chris Gatt, and original music and sound design by Albert Garzia. Together, these elements combine Wilde’s poetic language with physical performance and atmospheric soundscapes.

Written in 1891, Salomé remains one of Wilde’s most daring works, examining forbidden desire and the destructive pursuit of power.

The wider programme also features a concert performance of Richard Strauss’s opera Salome on 12 November, conducted by Barry Kolman.

The theatrical production is suitable for audiences aged 16 and over and contains nudity.

Tickets and further information are available at www.teatrumanoel.mt.

Are you looking forward to this production?