WATCH: ‘Balete’, ‘Sandosenang Sapatos’, ‘Kisapmata’ Excerpts from Tanghalang Pilipino’s 38th Season Launch
At the 38th season launch of Tanghalang Pilipino, the company performed excerpts from their upcoming productions and introduced the new members of their ActorsCompany.
Their season begins with Balete, a play based on the novel Tree, written by National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose, with a stage adaptation by Rody Vera, first staged by PETA in 2002.
Created in collaboration with the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company, this story follows a young boy as he navigates life in a small Ilokano town. Amidst a backdrop of friends from various social classes, loyal family servants, and relatives with deep-seated expectations, he faces the complexities of growing up in a divided society where class distinctions shape identities and destinies. On his journey of self-discovery, he clashes with the entrenched power structures that dictate the lives of everyone around him.
As assistant director and movement director Delphine Buencamino explains, this production will be using both texts: “We’re using Tree in its original English form and Sir Rody’s adaptation and seeing how they can talk to each other.”
Director Chris Millado, who directed the 2002 adaptation, says they called on Delphine to help design a process employing what they call devised theater. He wanted the actors and other creatives to interact with the original source material while retaining Rody Vera’s adaptation and treating it like another source.
“Sa devised theater, iyung proseso iyung pinakabida. It could start from texts, but it could also be generated literally from anything,” says Delphine. “What’s important is, it’s a process of experimentation and play with the whole company. The actors become co-authors or co-creators together with the other artistic staff. Kaya napakahirap ng authorship and billing kapag devised theater.”
She adds that it’s not like the traditional way of staging, where it starts with a script and proceeds with blocking. “There’s a lot of improvisation, literally playing games, and playing with concepts.”
“Also, with all the input from our cast, it’s very collaborative. We also invite the artistic team to rehearsals, and we’ve been playing with them.” She adds how they have individual sessions with projection and set design to experiment. “It’s about finding or orchestrating organized chaos, looking for the happy accidents, and seeing how everything fits together.”
Artistic Director Nanding Josef emphasizes the importance of collaboration and trust in this form of work. “Nawawala iyung gap between the director and the actors and even the playwright. Nagtutulungan talaga, and I think iyun iyung unti-unti naming na-evolve na proseso sa Tanghalang Pilipino, iyung collaboration, iyung teamwork. I think iyun iyung isa sa pinakaimportanteng characteristic ng devised work.”
The cast features Nonie Buencamino, Jonathan Tadioan, Marco Viaña, Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan, Toni Go-Yadao, Gelo Molina, Earvin Estioco, and Ynna Rafa.
Also in the creative team of Balete are Teresa Barrozo (music arrangement and sound design), Wika Nadera (set design), Carlos Siongco (costume design), Jana Jimenez (projection design), Roman Cruz (lighting design), and Sabrina Basilio (dramaturgy).
Balete will run from September 13 to October 6, Fridays to Sundays, at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez. Tickets can be reserved through Tanghalang Pilipino’s Google Form.
The season continues with the return of Sandosenang Sapatos, which was staged in 2023 as part of the company’s 37th season.
With stage adaptation by Layeta Bucoy based on the short story by Dr. Luis Gatmaitan, Jonathan Tadioan returns to direct the production with the same creative team intact– Music by Joed Balsamo (who also serves as musical director and arranger) and Noel Cabangon (music), Choreography by Stephen Viñas, Production Design by Marco Viaña and Paw Castillo, Lighting Design by Gabo Tolentino, and Sound Design by TJ Ramos. Musicians are Tyrone Mateos (pianist), RJ Alfafara (percussionist), and Jordan Amaca (guitarist).
Returning to the cast are Felicity Kyle Napuli and Wincess Jem Yana as Susie, Tex Ordoñez-De Leon as Nanay, Mica Fajardo as Ate Karina, Marynor Madamesila as Diwata, Mark Lorenz as One Year Old, Francis Gatmaytan as Three Years Old, Natasha Cabrera as Yellowy, Lance Soliman as Red, Bea Remollo as Maong, Patricia Rolda as Sequins, Sarah Monay as Whitey, and Paula Espinola as Ballerina. MC Dela Cruz, who previously played Bluey, will now be playing the role of Sandals.
Joining the cast are Gie Onida as Tatay, Murline Uddin as Two Years Old, Heber O’Hara as Bluey, and Gelo Molina as Pinky.
Sandosenang Sapatos will run from November 15 to December 8, Fridays to Sundays, at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez. Tickets can be reserved through Tanghalang Pilipino’s Google Form.
Kisapmata, adapted and directed by Guelan Varela-Luarca with the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company, uses two source materials– the film by Mike de Leon of the same name, which is based on National Artist Nick Joaquin’s crime report titled The House on Zapote Street.
When asked how much of each source will be used in the stage adaptation, Luarca estimates it to be around 50-60% from Joaquin’s short story.
The play revolves around a seemingly perfect home on Zapote Street composed of a retired policeman, his wife, and their daughter. Their peaceful existence is shattered when the daughter falls in love, suddenly putting their once safe and orderly world at risk. The father, convinced that he alone knows what’s best, becomes fiercely protective, determined to defend his family at all costs.
Kisapmata features performances from the senior members of the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company — Jonathan Tadioan, Marco Viaña, Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan, and Toni Go-Yadao.
Also in the creative team are Rafa Jimenez and Katrina Batara (assistant direction), Jerry Respeto (dramaturgy), JM Cabling (movement direction), Joey Mendoza (set design), Bonsai Cielo (costume design), Arvy Dimaculangan (sound design and engineer), and D Cortezano (lighting design and technical direction).
Kisapmata will run from March 7, 2025 to March 30, 2025, Fridays to Sundays, at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez. Tickets can be reserved through Tanghalang Pilipino’s Google Form.
Through a performance of Pingkian: Isang Musikal’s Pangarap Ko’y Kalayaan, the company also unveiled the new composition of its ActorsCompany for the upcoming season. New scholars include Murline Uddin, Ynna Rafa, Anya Evangelista, Sofia Sacaguing, Heber O’hara, Earvin Estioco, Angelo Molina, and Rey Correjado. Scholars are Heart Puyong and Arjhay Babon. Apprentices are Sarah Monay and Mark Lorenz, while its senior members are Jonathan Tadioan, Marco Viaña, Toni Go-Yadao, and Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan.
The only one of its kind in the country, the ActorsCompany is a pool of professional theater actors who go through intensive training in acting, movement, dance, voice, script analysis, improvisation, directing, and other related courses.
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