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9 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 26 AUGUST 2026 CULTURE Two new performances added for theatre production Hobzna ta' Kuljum A new theatre production by Dù Theatre takes audiences back to Malta in the 70s, where a na- tional crisis finds its way into the heart of a Maltese family. Two new shows have been added by popular demand. Written and directed by Si- mone Spiteri, Ħobżna ta' Kul- jum is a new theatre produc- tion set against the backdrop of the 1977 bread strike, a period in which one of the most basic staples of Maltese life became a symbol of tension, uncertainty and survival. At the heart of the story is Ri- ta, a young woman trying to find her own path in a world where many of the decisions about her future seem to have already been made for her. She wants more from life, but her desire for free- dom and independence brings her face to face with the expec- tations of her family and the so- ciety around her. Rita is played by Daniela Car- abott Pawley, who is joined by a formidable cast featuring some of the most recognisable faces in Malta's theatre and television scene: Mary Rose Mallia, Lino Mintoff, Magdalena van Kuilen- burg, Kristjana Casha, Thom- as Camilleri, Rachel Pecorella Genovese and Matthew Dimech Genuis. With music by Luke Saydon, in this play, bread becomes much more than simply food. As ten- sions surrounding the strike grow outside the family home, another tension grows within Rita. Bread becomes livelihood, control, tradition and a symbol of the life each character is either trying to preserve or change. Through the intimate story of a Maltese family, Ħobżna ta' Kuljum explores the conflict be- tween what we inherit and what we choose, between obligation and desire, and between the need to remain part of a family and what we sometimes have to leave behind in order to become ourselves. The production will run from 18 to 27 September, with the performances on 19 Septem- ber and 27 September accom- panied by English surtitles. A Q&A session will be held on 25 September after the perfor- mance. This project is support- ed by Malta Arts Council and APS Bank. For tickets and fur- ther information, visit: Ticket- lane – Ħobżna ta' Kuljum Photo: Ritty Tacsum Little Shop of Horrors comes to Teatru Manoel this October MASQUERADE Malta, in col- laboration with Teatru Manoel, presents the cult musical Little Shop of Horrors, running from 23 October to 1 November 2026 at Teatru Manoel in Valletta. Wickedly funny, delightfully dark and packed with unforget- table music, Little Shop of Hor- rors tells the story of Seymour Krelborn, a shy flower shop assistant whose discovery of a mysterious plant changes his life and unleashes an appetite that just won't stop. The Book and lyrics are by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken, the musi- cal blends sci-fi, Motown and B-movie horror into a hilari- ous and thrilling theatrical ex- perience. Audiences can look forward to favourites including Skid Row (Downtown), Sudden- ly Seymour and, of course, Feed Me (Git It). The production is directed by Anthony Bezzina, with Kris Spi- teri as Musical Director, Valerie Burke as Choreographer, Simo- na Mamo on Costume Design and Sergio Costa on Sound De- sign. The stellar cast features Mi- chela Agius as Audrey, Luigi Buhagiar as Seymour, Francesco Nicodeme as Orin, Rachel Fabri as Crystal, Natassja Chapman as Chiffon, Abigail Zarb as Ron- ette, Max Dingli as Mushnik, and Karl Bartolo as Audrey II. Whether you are a devoted fan or discovering the cult classic for the first time, Little Shop of Horrors promises killer tunes, unexpected laughs, romance, horror and larger-than-life char- acters. Men cast: Francesco Nicodeme, Luigi Buhagiar, Max Dingli, Karl Bartolo, Miguel Rosales Women cast: Michela Agius, Natassja Chapman, Abigail Zarb, Rachel Fabri