 Originally called the "Teatro Pubblico," its name was changed to "Teatro Reale," or Theatre Royal, in 1812, and renamed "Manoel Theatre" in 1866.The first play to be performed was Maffei's Merope.The theatre is a small, 623 seat venue, with an oval-shaped auditorium, three tiers of boxes constructed entirely of wood, decorated with gold leaf, and a pale blue trompe-l'oeil ceiling that resembles a round cupola.