PUBLIC THEATRES  [ S.L.10.02 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 10.02
PUBLIC THEATRES REGULATIONS 
26th July, 1899
GOVERNMENT NOTICE 26 of 1899, as amended by Government
Notices: 243 of 1919, 87 of 1927 and 123 of 1944; GOVERNMENT
NOTICE 335 of 1955; and GOVERNMENT NOTICE 418 of 1957,
consolidated.
Preliminary
Title .
Regulations. 
Interpretation.
Added by:
G.N. 123 of 1944.
2. In these Regulations, “theatre” means any building
licensed by the Commissioner of Police for the giving of public
theatrical performances.
Licences
Granting of 
licence.
Cap. 10.
3. The licence under article 201 of the Code of Police Laws
shall not be granted unless the premises proposed to be used as a
theatre or place of public entertainment are reported by the Chief
Government Medical Officer to be satisfactory from a sanitary
point of view.
Duties of licensee.
the premises used for any purpose as provided in regulation 2 in a
good and proper state as regards ventilation, cleanliness and other
conditions affecting heath. 
(2) It shall be the duty of the licensee to furnish the auditorium
with electric fans or other similar devices to the satisfaction of the
Chief Government Medical Officer and to cause the same to be kept
working at all necessary times.
Right of entry.
Officer, the medical officers of health and the sanitary inspectors
shall have the right of entry at all times to any part of any such
premises as aforesaid to ascertain whether the requirements of
regulations 3 and 4 are being complied with.
Observance of regulations
Prohibitions.
apart for that purpose.
(2) It is forbidden to cause annoyance to others during the
performance by standing up, by unnecessary movement or noise, or
in any other manner.
(3) No bouquets or other articles are to be thrown which, owing
to their weight, size or form may injure, or annoy, any person, or
damage any property.
(4) No one shall allow a dog into a theatre.
Head dress.
head uncovered; but officers and men of the Armed Forces of Malta
and of the Police Force, when in uniform and on duty, are not
2 [ S.L.10.02 PUBLIC THEATRES 
required to remove their head dress except when they are seated in
any part of the auditorium:
Provided that the provisions of this regulation shall not
apply to persons who, in accordance with their national custom,
keep the head covered on all occasions. 
Directions as to 
seating.
8. The directions of the regular employees of a theatre with
regard to the occupation of seats, boxes, chairs or other
accommodation are to be complied with.
Infringement of 
regulations.
9. Any person infringing the provisions of regulations 6, 7 or
8 of these Regulations shall, on conviction, be liable to the
punishment established for contraventions, and may, after being
warned to desist, be expelled from the theatre.
Powers of the 
Police.
Added by:
G.N. 243 of 1919.
10. It shall be lawful for any police officer, of a rank not below
that of sub-inspector, whenever he has reasonable grounds for
suspecting that any of these Regulations has been, or is being,
infringed by any of the occupants of a box, to order that the door of
such box be kept open during the performance, or any part thereof,
and any person disobeying such order shall be liable, on conviction,
to the punishment established for contraventions, and may, after
being warned to desist, be expelled from the theatre. 
Obstruction of 
gangways.
Added by:
G.N. 87 of 1927.
11. (1) In the pit of every theatre there shall be provided
gangways sufficient, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Police,
to ensure the movements of the public in case of emergency and
whenever the theatre is open to the public or is otherwise in use the
gangways shall be kept clear.
(2) Any person obstructing the gangways by standing up or by
the addition or occupation of seats therein or in any other manner
infringing the provisions of sub-regulation (1) of this regulation
shall be liable to expulsion from the theatre in addition to the
punishment laid down for contraventions.
Seating accommodation
Numbering of 
seats.
Added by:
G.N. 123 of 1944.
12. Every seat in every theatre shall be marked with a number,
and seats shall be so arranged that the numbers marked on them
proceed in consecutive order beginning with number “1”; no
duplication of numbers shall be allowed.
Tickets.
Added by:
G.N. 123 of 1944.
13. Every ticket issued by or on behalf of the licensee of the
theatre in respect of any performance in the theatre shall have a
number corresponding to that of the seat to be occupied by the
holder of the ticket.
Plan of seating 
accommodation.
Added by:
G.N. 123 of 1944.
14. The licensee of every theatre shall put up by every booking
office a plan showing the seating accommodation available in the
theatre and the price payable in respect of each set of seats.
Number of persons 
admitted.
Added by:
G.N. 123 of 1944.
15. The number of persons admitted to any theatre shall in no
case exceed the number of persons indicated in the licence issued
by the Commissioner of Police.
Closing time
Closing time of 
theatres.
16. Theatres shall close not later than twelve midnight; public
dances may continue till 1a.m.
PUBLIC THEATRES  [ S.L.10.02 3
Extension of 
closing time.
17. (1) On application made to him, the Commissioner of
Police may, in special cases, extend, at his discretion, the closing
time specified in regulation 16 of these Regulations.
(2) The application referred to in sub-regulation (1) of this
regulation shall be made at least four days before the day in respect
of which the extension of the closing time is applied for.
