Cover James Bradwell, Vanessa White, and James Cooney for ‘Betrayal’
James Bradwell, Vanessa White, and James Cooney for ‘Betrayal’
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Repertory Philippines raises the drama with ‘Betrayal’ for local theatre fans this coming March as part of its Bridge Project
Repertory Philippines (REP) holds no bars for its 87th season. Running from March 1 to 17 at the Carlos P Romulo Theatre in RCBC Plaza is the Manila premiere of Betrayal, a renowned play by British theatre icon and Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter. The upcoming version will be directed by critically acclaimed actor and theatre director Victor Lirio.
“I am thrilled to be directing my first production in my home country and at REP,” Lirio says. “We will be exploring the story of the second-generation Filipino immigrant experience in London and setting it in contemporary time.”
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Above Repertory Philippines presents Harold Pinter’s ‘Betrayal’
Repertory Philippines presents Harold Pinter’s ‘Betrayal’
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A recipient of the Olivier Award and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, Betrayal employs a reverse-chronological structure that shows the extramarital affair involving Emma, Robert, and Jerry (portrayed by London-based Filipinos Vanessa White, James Bradwell, and James Cooney). The play takes place in London and Venice over nine years and is inspired by Pinter’s seven-year affair.
Joined by Manila-based actors and Philstage Gawad Buhay awardees Regina De Vera and Jef Flores, the three main characters held their first stage reading at Makati last February 8. It was the perfect opportunity for the cast to connect.
Above Regina De Vera, James Cooney, Vanessa White, James Bradwell, and Jef Flores
Above Vanessa White and James Bradwell during a stage reading
Regina De Vera, James Cooney, Vanessa White, James Bradwell, and Jef Flores
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“Though born in England, actors Cooney and White’s families are from Davao, and Bradwell’s are from Naga City. My family is from Batangas. And we will mine our Filipino roots to retell this beautiful and complicated story,” Lirio says.
Betrayal will feature set design by Miguel Urbino, lighting design by John Batalla, sound design by Fabian Obispo, and costume design by Becky Bodurtha.
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Above Vanessa White, Victor Lirio, James Bradwell, and James Cooney
Vanessa White, Victor Lirio, James Bradwell, and James Cooney
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‘Betrayal’ as part of the Bridge Project
Betrayal is part of the Bridge Project, a collaboration among global professional theatre practitioners of Filipino descent from New York, London, and Manila. Launched by Lirio in June 2020 in London and currently in partnership with REP in Manila, this global undertaking serves as a “skills exchange platform.”
The project will offer free sessions that touch on theatre topics like Shakespeare’s text rhetoric, text and scene study, script analysis for visual designers, voice and theatre experience, a speaker series forum, and some staged readings.
Above James Bradwell, Vanessa White, and James Cooney
James Bradwell, Vanessa White, and James Cooney
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The classes will be held at MINT College, Mckinley Hill, and Ortigas Campus. Registration begins in the first week of February. Interested participants can download application forms at repertoryphilippines.ph
“I’m grateful to REP president and CEO Mindy Perez-Rubio for supporting The Bridge Project’s ethos and having the London-based Filipino actors and me,” shares Lirio. “We’re all very excited to collaborate with fellow theatre artists in Manila in presenting one of Pinter’s most extraordinary plays.”
For more information, please contact 0966-905-4013 or email marketing@repphil.org or sales@repphil.org. You may visit www.repertoryphilippines.ph as well.
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Credits
Images: Repertory Philippines / Angela Nicole Guiral
Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is a digital editor at Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
