Teatru Manoel presents ARTi, the Maltese-language adaptation of Yasmina Reza’s internationally acclaimed, multi-award-winning play Art, from 16th to 18th 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-provoking exploration of friendship, taste and the personal values that shape human relationships.The story centres on three long-standing friends, Marc, Serge and Yvan, whose relationship is unexpectedly put to the test when Serge purchases an expensive modernist painting: a seemingly all-white canvas marked only by subtle white lines. What begins as a disagreement about the artistic value of the painting rapidly develops into a much more personal confrontation. As opinions clash and tempers rise, long-held tensions, insecurities and unspoken resentments begin to emerge, threatening a friendship that has endured for many years.Through sharp dialogue and finely observed humour, Reza’s celebrated comedy asks whether friendship can withstand fundamental differences in taste, judgement and personal values. The painting becomes far more than an object of disagreement; it serves as a catalyst that forces the three men to reconsider how they see one another and themselves.Albert Marshall’s Maltese translation gives Reza’s dialogue a fresh and contemporary local register while retaining 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 between the three performers, its strong comedic timing and the natural way in which Reza’s humour and underlying tensions were conveyed in Maltese. The production now returns to the stage at Teatru Manoel, offering audiences another opportunity to experience this compelling comedy in Malta’s national theatre.ARTi will be performed on Teatru Manoel’s Main Stage on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th October at 8pm and on Sunday 18th October at 5pm. 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 the website.Tag someone you are going with•