Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546572
9 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 CULTURE Toby Farrugia and Ozzy Lino release new single More Than OK AWARD-WINNING music producer Toby Farrugia joins forces with legendary Maltese singer Ozzy Lino for the release of their powerful new single, More Than Ok. Written, composed and pro- duced by Toby Farrugia at To- bymusic Productions, More Than Ok carries a deeply per- sonal and universal message about self-worth, insecurity and the pressure many people feel to constantly prove them- selves. The song is a reminder that sometimes we become so fo- cused on seeking approval and proving that we are good enough that we forget an im- portant truth — we were al- ready worthy all along. More Than Ok aims to cre- ate awareness around those feelings of self-doubt and the belief that we need to be more, achieve more or prove more in order to feel valued. Its mes- sage is simple but powerful: you don't have to prove your worth to anyone. You are more than enough. You are more than ok. The collaboration brings to- gether Toby Farrugia's pro- duction expertise and Ozzy Lino's distinctive and emotive vocal performance, creating a song that combines contempo- rary production with genuine emotion and a message that can resonate with anyone who has ever questioned their own worth. More Than Ok will be re- leased on Dancewood Records on Monday, 21 September 2026. Toby Farrugia is an award-winning music produc- er and the founder of Toby- music Productions. With over 20 years of experience in the music industry, Toby has been involved in more than 1,000 productions, working with es- tablished artists, singers and DJs, as well as producing music for films and documentaries. ARTi returns in Maltese as part of Teatru Manoel's new season TEATRU Manoel presents ARTi, the Maltese-language adaptation of Yasmina Reza's internationally acclaimed, mul- ti-award-winning play Art, from 16 to 18 October 2026 as part of its 2026/27 season. Translated and directed by Albert Marshall, ARTi brings together three leading Maltese actors: Ray Calleja, Mikhail Basmadjian and Sean Buhagiar for a witty and thought-pro- voking exploration of friend- ship, taste and the personal values that shape human rela- tionships. The story centres on three long-standing friends, Marc, Serge and Yvan, whose rela- tionship is unexpectedly put to the test when Serge pur- chases an expensive modernist painting: a seemingly all-white canvas marked only by subtle white lines. What begins as a disagreement about the artis- tic value of the painting rapidly develops into a much more per- sonal confrontation. As opin- ions clash and tempers rise, long-held tensions, insecurities and unspoken resentments be- gin to emerge, threatening a friendship that has endured for many years. Through sharp dialogue and finely observed humour, Reza's celebrated comedy asks wheth- er friendship can withstand fundamental differences in taste, judgement and personal values. The painting becomes far more than an object of disa- greement; it serves as a catalyst that forces the three men to re- consider how they see one an- other and themselves. Albert Marshall's Maltese translation gives Reza's dia- logue a fresh and contempo- rary local register while retain- ing the wit, pace and emotional complexity of the original work. Marshall also directs the production, which features set design by Adrian Mamo. The play was first presented in Maltese in 2023 as part of the Valletta Cultural Agency's Stretta Festival at Splendid in Strait Street. Its staging was praised for the chemistry be- tween the three performers, its strong comedic timing and the natural way in which Reza's hu- mour and underlying tensions were conveyed in Maltese. The production now returns to the stage at Teatru Manoel, offering audiences another op- portunity to experience this compelling comedy in Malta's national theatre. ARTi will be performed on Teatru Manoel's Main Stage on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 Oc- tober at 8:00pm, and on Sun- day 18 October at 5:00pm. The production has a running time of approximately 90 minutes and is suitable for audiences aged 12 and over. For more information and tickets visit www.teatruma- noel.mt.