Cover (Photo: Shaun Ocrisma)
(Photo: Shaun Ocrisma)
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Get to know the lively theatre actor who injects his unique flair into every performance he’s in
“A wounded fighter. That’s what I want people to remember me as. I didn’t quit on life. I forged my path with the support of the people I love, determined what I wanted to do, and pursued it. I want to inspire people to fight for themselves because that’s what they deserve,” shared Ocrisma.
Theatre actor and content creator Shaun Ocrisma came from humble beginnings as a creative. From helping out in his school organisations as a costume designer to simply appreciating and supporting the arts, his calling to become an actor came, and he grabbed it. Now, he breathes life into every role he plays and aims to ignite the fiery passion in everyone he meets.
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Above (Photo: Shaun Ocrisma)
(Photo: Shaun Ocrisma)
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Ocrisma’s first introduction to theatre came in the fifth grade of elementary school. Tanghalang Ateneo’s Walang Sugat showed him the wonders of drama. From there, he got hooked. “I marvelled at its cartoonish set. It wasn’t the best show, but I wanted to be there. Then I watched Ateneo Children’s Theater’s Ang Nawalang Kapatid.I loved the energy I gave to the actors and the energy I got back from them. It was so magical for me. So the next year, I joined Ateneo Children’s Theater,” recalled Ocrisma.
Though he stopped his theatre journey briefly in high school, his passion never ultimately waned. He has directed stage plays in school and even went on to win the Best Director award.
He spent his first two years in college pursuing a life sciences degree. As a costume designer, he remained active in the theatre scene through Tanghalang Ateneo. After a few shows, he decided to switch courses. “When I entered college, my first choice was life sciences, and my fourth choice was theatre arts. I remember telling myself, ‘If I don’t get into the sciences, I guess God wants me to be a theatre person.’ I shifted because I would always find reasons to do theatre, and my friend, Francheska Dela Cruz, opened my eyes to take what I wanted,” he said.
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After shifting to what he is more passionate about, Ocrisma started making a name for himself in the industry—starring in beloved stage plays like Dekada ’70, Mula sa Buwan, Zsazsa Zaturnnah and more.
In a new musical titled Silver Lining by Rockitwell Studios and MusicArtes Inc, Ocrisma played a character named Mart—which the audience would unanimously agree is the life of the production. Ocrisma’s charismatic personality perfectly blends with the character’s temperament and always manages to evoke some strong emotion from the viewers. “Playing Mart was a revelation. When I first read the script, I thought, ‘Oh, a gay character. That’s interesting.’ By the end of the production, I wanted to establish Mart to have a purpose. To not just be a comic relief character. Because you can honestly remove Mart from the plot, and the story would still run smoothly. My mission was to find a purpose for him. It also reflected the acting technique I learned from my mentor, Missy Maramara. She told me to always go for an objective,” said Ocrisma.
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When he’s not rehearsing for a stage play or a musical, Ocrisma loves to create short videos for his TikTok and Instagram. His content? Fashion. Empowered by the idea that clothes have no gender, he finds creative ways to look stylish with whatever you can find in your closet. “I have content where I switch clothes with my mum! We do fashion shows; I wear her clothes, and she wears mine. For me, I’m trying to break the idea of the ‘image’ of a man. I believe [society] invented it, and it’s not innate. I will wear what I want—for example, if I want to wear heels. I feel like, to different degrees, when people wear their hair differently or wear a jacket that they like, it empowers them and lets them express themselves. I like wearing clothes that reflect me because they can say what my mouth can’t,” said Ocrisma.
The idea of the struggling artist is ingrained in all of us—no matter how much we try to break it. Ocrisma’s biggest grievance with theatre is how hard it is to survive in the real world. “I wouldn’t lie. The most challenging part of theatre is the pay. I’m lucky that I get to create content on the side, but theatre in the Philippines is hard to make sustainable—even if it’s better now compared to the previous generations, it’s still not ideal. . .I’m so thankful for Toff de Venecia and Risa Hontiveros because they’re pushing for a better creative industry,” shares Ocrisma.
“You only get one life, and it’s up to you to make meaning out of it. It’s up to you to make sure you don’t lose."
About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
Work
A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
