The Manoel Theatre
The building of Valletta St.John's Co-Cathedral and Museum The Auberges The "Sacra Infermeria" The Grandmaster's Palace		This little theatre in Old Theatre Street is a real jewel both because of its cultural history as well as its architectural design. Built in 1731, in the time of the Grandmaster Manoel de Vilhena, whose name it bears, Manoel Theatre was intended by him to provide "decent leisure time activities for the Knights." Through his concern for the moral welfare, he donated considerable sums from his own pocket to build the Theatre. In its opening performance on January 9th 1732, the Knights personally performed on stage. Initially, its name was "The Theatre of the People", later becoming the Royal Theatre and finally, in 1866 as a tribute to its founder, "Manoel Theatre".