Cover The cast of ‘Niyebe’ performing on stage (Photo: Courtesy of FEU Theatre Guild)
The cast of ‘Niyebe’ performing on stage (Photo: Courtesy of FEU Theatre Guild)
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Immerse yourself in the future of the Philippine theatre scene
As the theatre industry continues to boom in the Philippines—with The Sandbox Collective, 9Works Theatrical, and Repertory Philippines, among others, staging ovation-worthy pieces—young creatives are eager to showcase their strong talent in the limelight. From the Ateneo de Manila University’s theatre groups to De La Salle University and the Far Eastern University’s drama guilds, the next generation of playwrights and actors looks promising. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss.
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Ateneo Blue Repertory
Above ‘Legally Blonde’ poster (Photo: Courtesy of Ateneo Blue Repertory)
‘Legally Blonde’ poster (Photo: Courtesy of Ateneo Blue Repertory)
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Returning to the Philippine stage after 15 years, Ateneo Blue Repertory breathes new life into Legally Blonde—a spectacular end to their 33rd season. Themed under ‘Full Bloom: Transformation in Motion’, the musical follows Elle Woods as she navigates societal expectations in Harvard Law.
Legally Blonde will run for 10 shows from May 3-4 and 8-11 at the Doreen Black Box Theatre, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University.
Tanghalang Ateneo
Above The Cast of ‘Ningning Sa Silangan’ (Photo: Courtesy of Tanghalang Ateneo)
The Cast of ‘Ningning Sa Silangan’ (Photo: Courtesy of Tanghalang Ateneo)
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Capping off its 46th season, ‘Eloquentia, Sapienta, Humanitas: The Ricky Season’, Tanghalang Ateneo brings a story of creation, death, and rebirth with Ningning Sa Silangan. This Filipino translation of Jo Clifford’s Light in the Village features multiple narrators taking on various roles in a small town: Inang Kalikasan, a landless farmer, a housekeeper, a lawyer, an aging herald, and two brothers who harbour different ideologies.
Ningning sa Silangan runs from March 27 to April 13 at the Rizal Mini Theatre, Ateneo de Manila University.
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DLSU Harlequin Theatre Guild
Above The poster for ‘DuLaSalle 2k24 Candelabra Wika ng Makata, Simbigat ng Pangarap, Singgaan ng Katotohanan’ (Photo: Courtesy of DLSU Harlequin Theatre Guild)
The poster for ‘DuLaSalle 2k24 Candelabra Wika ng Makata, Simbigat ng Pangarap, Singgaan ng Katotohanan’ (Photo: Courtesy of DLSU Harlequin Theatre Guild)
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Born out of the poems of literature and creative writing professor Dr Mesándel Arguelles, the DLSU Harlequin Theatre Guild presents “DuLaSalle 2k24 Candelabra: Wika ng Makata, Simbigat ng Pangarap, Singgaan ng Katotohanan”. With four plays under this production—King, Kilapsaw, Ngiti sa Apoy, and Kandili—these stagings tell Dr Arguelles’s stories in Candelaria, Quezon Province.
“DuLaSalle 2k24 Candelabra: Wika ng Makata, Simbigat ng Pangarap, Singgaan ng Katotohanan” runs from March 13 to 15 at the Natividad-Fajardo Auditorium, De La Salle University.
Dulaang UP
Above One of the posters of ‘Sa Gitna ng Digmaan ng mga Mahiwagang Nilalang Laban sa Sangkatauhan’ (Photo: Courtesy of Dulaang UP)
Above The cast of ‘Climate In Crazies’ (Photo: Courtesy of Dulaang UP)
One of the posters of ‘Sa Gitna ng Digmaan ng mga Mahiwagang Nilalang Laban sa Sangkatauhan’ (Photo: Courtesy of Dulaang UP)
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For its second offering of its 47th theatre season, Dulaang UP stages Mga Anak ng Unos, a twinbill production that showcases brand new performances under the theme of the pressing climate crisis. The first play, Sa Gitna ng Digmaan ng mga Mahiwagang Nilalang Laban sa Sangkatauhan, is written by Carlos Palanca Award for Literature Hall of Famer Joshua Lim So and explores an alliance between the ancient Filipino Gods (bathaluman) and other mythological creatures as they move to punish humanity for disrupting nature’s balance.
It is followed by Climate in Crazies, which picks up from David Finnigan’s Scenes from the Climate Era—taking on a more local and personal experience amidst the global emergency.
“Mga Anak ng Unos” runs from March 28 to April 13 at the IBG-KAL Theatre, University of the Philippines Diliman.
FEU Theater Guild
Above A sneak peak into the FEU Theatre Guild’s new musical, ‘Niyebe’ (Photo: Courtesy of FEU Theatre Guild)
A sneak peak into the FEU Theatre Guild’s new musical, ‘Niyebe’ (Photo: Courtesy of FEU Theatre Guild)
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“Mabubuo pa ba ang pag-ibig kung ang simula ay kamatayan; handa ka bang harapin ang panibagong bukas kung magsisimula sa wakas? [Will love be ever fulfilled when it begins with death? Are you willing to face a new day if it will start from the end?]”
For its 91st season, the FEU Theater Guild brings a new experimental musical to the stage. Based on Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s short story, El Rastro de tu Sangre en la Nieve (The Trail of Your Blood in the Snow), audiences can expect a visceral experience rooted in love, grief, and loss.
Niyebe runs until March 27 at the Far Eastern University Center for the Arts.
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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.
