Teatru Astra (The Astra Theatre) in Gozo is one attraction you must not miss, however long your stay on the Maltese islands. Draped in baroque-architectural splendor, it welcomes you with its classical Greek-styled front, whilst perched on Victoria’s Republic Street.

According to a study on theatres done in 2016 titled Spazji Teatrali, 15 per cent of theatres on The Maltese Islands are in Gozo, while 90 per cent of theatres are located outside Valletta. And Teatru Astra is one of these beauts which characterise the vibrant energy of Malta's theatrical heritage.

Indeed, the theatre, which is privately-owned and forms part of a larger musical voluntary organisation called Socjeta Filarmonika Le Stella, is over half a century old, having been inaugurated in 1968. Since then, it has seen plenty of respected stars and performances leave audiences speechless, including Raffaella Carra, The Goggi Sisters, Nek, and the Ballet Classique de Paris, amongst many others. Renowned Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja also made his debut in the Astra Theatre just over 20 years ago, in 1997.

With a capacity of about 1200 people, the seating is divided into two tiers of boxers on either side of the theatre, along with a balcony in the centre. The warm red interiors are plush, following a refurbishment in 2005, after a fire broke out in the theatre in 2003. 

Just ten years after its inauguration, the theatre started hosting operas, a genre which Gozo has had strong ties with since the 19th century. Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Othello, and the famous Madame Butterfly and La Boheme have been performed here to rapturous applause. More recently, the Astra Theatre has ventured into musicals, putting up a performance of Grease in 2016, followed by Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar. This year is set to solidify the theatre's successes, with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat premiering soon. And, we cannot wait to see what else they have in store!