‘Dagitab’ Stage Adaptation Coming this July
Scene Change (Sc.) is set to stage a limited two-weekend run of Dagitab, based on the award-winning Cinemalaya film by Giancarlo Abrahan, adapted and directed by Palanca Hall of Famer Guelan Varela-Luarca.
Dagitab examines the marriage of two professors, Issey and Jimmy, on the brink of separation after more than 20 years together. The man searches for a deity—the subject of his research—whom he recognizes as the ghost of a friend, while Issey is drawn to Gab, a young writer who also happens to be her godson.
The stage adaptation features Agot Isidro in the lead role of Issey and Jojit Lorenzo as her husband, Jimmy. Elijah Canlas essays the role of Issey’s sensitive godson—and eventual lover—Gab. Completing the cast are Benedix Ramos, in his first straight theater outing, as Angelo, a lovelorn poet who forms a deep friendship with Gab, and Samantha Samarita as Lorena, a haunting figure from the past.
Dagitab premiered at the 10th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, where Abrahan won awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay. The Young Critics Circle cited it as the Best Debut Feature of 2014, while it topped that year’s film poll by the Society of Filipino Film Reviewers (formerly Pinoy Rebyu) in the categories of Best Film, Best Performance, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Scene. It was also nominated for Best Screenplay at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and received 14 Gawad Urian nominations.
The production is the sophomore offering of the newly launched theater company Sc., which is committed to producing brave, cosmopolitan, and unconventional Filipino theater. Like its maiden production, 3 Upuan, Dagitab is designed as an intimate theater experience, with only 80 seats available for each of its eight shows.
Dagitab is an addition to Varela-Luarca’s series of theatrical adaptations of cinematic works, which he started with Mike de Leon’s Batch 81 (entitled Alpha Kappa Omega) in 2019 and Kisapmata last March. Varela-Luarca heads the creative team which includes D Cortezano (set design), JM Cabling (movement), Jethro Nibaten (lighting), Carlos Hombrebueno (music), and Giancarlo Abrahan (dramaturgy).
Co-presented by the Department of Fine Arts of the Ateneo, in partnership with Areté, Dagitab will be staged at the Fine Arts Black Box, Old Communications Building, Ateneo de Manila University, with show dates on July 5–6 and 12–13, 2025 (2:00 PM & 7:30 PM). Tickets are now on sale for ₱2,000 and may be purchased via the company’s Google Form.
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