Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547312
3 THEATRE maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 OCTOBER 2026 Għadna Żgħar: A story of friendship, growing up and finding your way GROWING up isn't always easy. Friendships change, re- sponsibilities increase, and the future can feel uncertain. But what if the people you've shared your best memories with are exactly the ones who can help you through it all? TOI TOI (Teatru Manoel's Learning and Participation Programme) presents Għad- na Żgħar, a new Maltese the- atre production exploring the excitement, challenges and uncertainties of stepping into adulthood. Directed by Pet- ra Sant and presented by Te- atru Manoel Youth Theatre (TMYT), the production will take place on 31st October and 1st November 2026 at 6:00pm at the Studio Theatre in Val- letta. Set in a traditional Maltese każin during the final summer of university, Għadna Żgħar follows a young man and his group of friends as they re- turn to their favourite meet- ing place, filled with laughter, unforgettable moments and countless shared memories. But as university life comes to an end, the group must face an important question: what happens when the future starts getting real? Created in collaboration with the young actors of TMYT, this original Maltese production brings authentic young voic- es to the stage, exploring the pressures of growing up, the importance of friendship and the challenges of finding your place in the world. Through relatable situa- tions and heartfelt moments, Għadna Żgħar reminds audi- ences that nobody has to fig- ure everything out alone. At its heart, the production cel- ebrates friendship, emotion- al wellbeing and the courage to reach out and ask for help when life feels overwhelming. Whether you're navigating these changes yourself or re- member what it feels like to stand at the crossroads of adulthood, Għadna Żgħar of- fers a story that many will rec- ognise and connect with. Don't miss this opportunity to experience a fresh Maltese production that puts young people's stories at centre stage. Suitable for audiences aged 13 and over, Għadna Żgħar will be performed on 31st October and 1st November at 6:00pm at Teatru Manoel's Studio Thea- tre in Valletta. Tickets can be booked online at www.teatrumanoel.mt or from the booking office. Ghadna Zghar (Photo: TOI TOI) Polykosmik: Exploring cultural heritage through digital innovation at MUŻA FROM 30 October to 8 No- vember 2026, the Community Space at MUŻA, Valletta will host Polykosmik: Materiali- ty and Memory in the Digital World, an exhibition and edu- cational programme examining the relationship between cul- tural heritage, digital technolo- gies and contemporary forms of interpretation. Developed within IMPULSE (IMmersive digitisation: uPcy- cling cULtural heritage towards new reviving StratEgies), the exhibition presents a series of experimental virtual environ- ments and research-led projects exploring how digitised cultural heritage assets can be reinter- preted through immersive tech- nologies, artistic practice and collaborative methodologies. Through virtual reality, audio- visual material, digital interfac- es, tactile elements and physical objects, visitors are invited to consider how collections, ar- chives and heritage sites can generate new forms of research, storytelling, learning and public engagement. The exhibition brings together approaches from across the cul- tural heritage and creative sec- tors, including projects engag- ing with Ġgantija and Malta's prehistoric heritage, archival material from archives from all around Europe, performance, sound, digital reconstruction, AI-assisted processes and spec- ulative virtual environments. The programme will be of par- ticular relevance to GLAM pro- fessionals, artists, researchers, educators, cultural practition- ers and members of the public with an interest in cultural her- itage and digital culture. Polykosmik forms part of IM- PULSE, a Horizon Europe pro- ject coordinated by Jagiellonian University, Poland, and devel- oped in collaboration with: • KU Leuven, Belgium • University of Bologna, It- aly • University of Malta, Malta • Heritage Malta, Malta • Filmuniversität Babels- berg KONRAD WOLF, Germany • National and Kapodistri- an University of Athens, Greece • Magna Żmien Founda- tion, Malta • Clust-ER Industrie Cul- turali e Creative, Italy • K8 Institut für strategis- che Ästhetik gGmbH, Germany • Exploded View sp. z o.o., Poland • The project is supported by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation pro- gramme. The IMPULSE project has received funding from the Eu- ropean Union's Horizon Eu- rope research and innovation action under Grant Agreement Project ID: 101132704 – IM- PULSE -HORIZON-CL2-2024- HERITAGE-01. Funded by the European Un- ion. Views and opinions ex- pressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Europe- an Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.