 During the early British Era, the ""Teatro Pubblico"" was renamed as the ""Teatro Reale"", going through a series of enlargements and re-modellings throughout the 19th century, most notably in 1812, when Sir George Whitmore added today's gallery and proscenium, raised the ceiling by one storey, and added eight more boxes, bringing the total to 67.Whitmore also transformed the auditorium to the oval shape that it has today.Further alterations were made in 1844, when the Manoel’s set designer, Ercolani, repainted the panels on the wooden boxes and had them gilded.