Catch Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ at the Manoel Theatre THIS MONTH

Although it’s been more than four centuries since Shakespeare walked this earth, his work is still regularly performed the world over. With over four billion copies of his works in circulation, he is hands down the best-selling playwright in history.

But what makes The Bard still so popular, over 400 years after writing his last words?

Massimo Zammit, CEO of Teatru Manoel – Malta’s national theatre – sheds some light on what makes Shakespeare’s allure so endearing, even as the very language used in his works changed so dramatically over the centuries.

“Shakespeare remains a favourite because he changed theatre with his comprehensive and varied body of work. He also had an innovative approach to genre, plot, characterisation, and language, which remain relevant and poignant to this day,” Mr Zammit says.

Like other theatres around the world, Teatru Manoel has brought Shakespeare’s works to the public for a long time.

In fact, it has produced six of his major plays in both English and Maltese since 1960.

“The theatre has also produced operas including Othello, and Romeo and Juliet, concert versions of Romeo and Juliet, as well as educational works related to Shakespeare’s work featuring sonnets and scenes from selected plays,” Mr Zammit continues.

Built almost 300 years ago, Teatru Manoel shares the elegance and prestige of the playwright’s work while remaining current and popular with present-day audiences.

“As a traditional proscenium theatre, Teatru Manoel provides a great setting for Shakespeare’s texts as it brings a sense of grandeur to his history plays, the gravitas required for his tragedies, and an intimacy and closeness to the audience which helps with his comedies,” the CEO adds.

In short, Teatru Manoel is the perfect fit for Shakespeare’s work.

That is why audiences keep coming back for more, and the theatre is only happy to oblige.

In a few short weeks, Othello, one of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, will be brought to life on its stage. This contemporary interpretation, abridged, adapted and directed by Ian Moore, will see Shawn John and Edward Caruana Galizia take up the roles of Othello and Iago respectively, and will have you glued to your seat.

Credit: Mark Zammit Cordina

This version of the famous play will explore jealousy, revenge, and ambition, issues which modern audiences can relate to as well as those in Shakespeare’s time did, and it will be in English.

“At the moment, we are staging the backlog of productions which had to be postponed because of COVID-19, but even though there are no confirmed plans to stage more of Shakespeare’s work in the near future, there are a number of creative ideas flying around for when this period is over,” Mr Zammit shares.

“Right now, however, I look forward to this production of Othello. Teatru Manoel is the ideal venue for what I consider to be one of the greatest tragedies ever written, and I have no doubt that the audiences will love Ian Moore’s modern interpretation,” he concludes.