| A
bit about the Manoel Theatre |
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A
bit about Clare |
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| In 1731, António Manoel
de Vilhena, Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, commissioned
and personally funded the construction of this central
building to serve as a Public Theatre "for the honest
recreation of the people".
This motto was inscribed above the main entrance to
the theatre, which still reads today: "ad honestam
populi oblectationem". With construction completed
in 10 months, the first theatrical performance to be
staged at the Manoel Theatre (then known as the Teatro
Pubblico) was Scipione Maffei's classic tragedy Merope,
on January 9, 1732.
The Manoel Theatre is a small, six-hundred and twenty-three
seat venue, with a lavish, oval-shaped auditorium, three
tiers of boxes constructed entirely of wood and decorated
with 22-carat gold leaf, and a pale blue, trompe-l'oeil
ceiling that resembles a round cupola.
Despite numerous alterations over the years, it retains
many of its old architectural features, such as the
white Carrara marble staircase, shell-shaped niches,
and Viennese chandeliers.
Two water reservoirs beneath the floor create an acoustic
environment that is so precise, that the hushed page-turnings
of an orchestra conductor can be heard clearly throughout
the auditorium.
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Clare was discovered by Carmel
S. Aquilina, a renowned Maltese theatre director and playwright
when she was15 and he noted her voice quality and ability
to carry herself on stage because she gives heartfelt
performances. Mr Aquilina had directed her in a school
play – her first performance ever, where she played
the main role in ‘La Lukandiera’ of Carlo
Goldoni.
That same year she attended the M.T.A.D.A. (Manoel
theatre Academy of Dramatic Arts) where she studied
under Malta’s veteran tutors and graduated after
5 years. On graduation she gave a performance at the
Manoel Theatre to much critical acclaim which gave launch
to her acting career in Malta’s leading theatres.
She has played leading roles including Yerma (Federico
Garcia Lorca), Juliet and Portia (Shakespeare) and Salome
(Oscar Wilde) in Malta's major theatres including the
Manoel Theatre, for which she was praised by critics
as being one of Malta's most talented and versatile
actresses.
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To date Clare has ventured beyond
her island in theatre experiences and projects with local
as well as foreign actors.
She performed in London at a Theatre Encounter in 1996,
at the Biennale Festival in Rome in 1999 and went on
a 3 month theatre tour with another Maltese actor in
2002 performing ‘KANDOR’ (a physical piece
of theatre) in the following countries: Edinburgh Festival,
Switzerland, Poland, Belarussia and India.
Today Clare seeks to play roles that are of a deep
nature and ones she can feel stimulated by during her
research of character and characterisation. She enjoys
performing but loves the process as much as teaming
up with like minded artists who share her passion.
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Main
image: The Manoel Theatre in all its splendour
Courtesy of the Malta Tourism Authority www.visitmalta.com |
