What do MOONRAKER, THE MUMMY, and the ASTRA THEATRE have in common?
PETER HOWITT! By Sabine Cassar-Alpert Photos: Chris Cini On November 8th, 2003, the last day of that years Festival Mediterranea, a fire originating in a switchboard quickly spread and caused severe damage to cinema and stage facilities. Part of the theatres roof caved in. Miraculously no one was injured, but the festivals final gala night had to be quickly re-scheduled to take place at St George’s Basilica instead. Almost two years to the day the Astra Theatre will return to centre stage in new splendour just in time for the Festival Mediterranea 2005. Puccinis opera ‘La Bohme’ will be staged on October 27th, featuring the National Orchestra and tenor Joseph Calleja, directed by Joseph Vella. The internationally acclaimed stage set designer Peter Howitt led the ambitious restoration and redecoration works. The necessary finances where raised by supporters and admirers of the Astra Theatre, and countless volunteers helped to keep the costs as low as possible. Upon completion some 220,0
