HALUHALO: THEATER
‘Huling Liham’: The Last to Forget, the First to Remember
‘Huling Liham’ is a love letter to those who remember and to those who wish to be remembered. Like letters kept close to the heart, our stories remain long after the moment has passed. It reminds us that history is not merely something we look back on, but something we carry with us so we never forget the lives, loves, and memories that shaped us.
Stage of resistance and memory: Four plays remembering Martial Law
Last September, many productions have transported us back to the past to let us take a look at the lives of the people living under a tyrannical rule. They all have different approaches to remembering, either through music or through heavy prose, that are truly worth watching.
All About ‘Bar Boys: The Musical’ 2025 Rerun at Arete
Still deciding whether to catch its rerun at Arete? Here is everything you need to know about this production.
The spectacle of ‘The Bodyguard The Musical’
The performances are definitely highlights of The Bodyguard The Musical, but no amount of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” encores can save this production.
‘Para Kay B’: All About Lucas
The play is ultimately the confrontation of the male writer and the power of literature. It can create worlds and transport you into them.
On time and grief: Scene Change’s ‘3 Upuan’ and ‘Dagitab’
There are numerous works of art surrounded by the topic of grief in hopes we can come to terms with it. What we learn is grief and the passage of time while dealing with grief are different to everyone. In the two recent plays from Scene Change, 3 Upuan and Dagitab, these two forces are the primal focuses. Both plays, written by Guelan Varela-Luarca, handled the themes in different ways and were done with care and knowledge about the themes.
Come look at the Freaks: The relevance of ‘Side Show: The Musical’ today
The product of Sandbox Collective’s efforts is a more humanized look at each character in the show and every decision they made for this production is made with empathy and understanding.
O ye of little faith, watch 'Grace'
‘Grace’ is a moving work that resonates with our history as a nation of devotees whose religion wasn’t endemic to our land but whose faith is like that of a mustard seed.
Unearthing the Memories of Our Formative Years in ‘Virgin Labfest XX’s Set A: Bubot’
The first set of every festival teases us with what to expect moving forward, but it’s never a concrete indicator of what will happen next. Much like in real life, our childhood experiences may shape our future but do not necessarily define them. Aptly titled ‘Bubot,’ the first set of Virgin Labfest’s 20th season immerses us in stories mostly associated with our formative years. Bubot—a term closely tied to immaturity and underdevelopment—captures a moment that once existed, before and during our early teens. This set forces us to revisit a time repressed by college and work, resurfacing memories indiscriminately: the good, the bad, and the so-so.
What ‘Choosing’ means for Liza and Ice
In this Pride Month special, we talked to Ice Seguerra and Liza Diño-Seguerra about ‘Choosing (A Stage Play)’ and how it breaks the stigma on the challenges that LGBTQIA+ couples go through, embracing all the decisions they make like broken fragments in kintsugi.
Sh*t, We Really Aren't Kids Anymore
Watching the Barefoot Theatre Collaborative's ‘We Aren’t Kids Anymore’ was an emotional journey as an adult still figuring it all out. Sometimes we just need a piece of art that makes us feel seen and heard, for someone to tell us that we'll get through it.
The Case for Mother Earth: 3 Stories From Katipunan’s Theater Scene
The battle of Katipunan takes a three-week intermission as Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas and Tanghalang Ateneo unite in the name of theater for their respective season-ender productions.
2024 Philippine Theater: A Curtain Call to Excellence
As we reflect on the remarkable moments of the past year in the theater scene, here are some of the highlights that made 2024 an unforgettable year for stage performances
CAST PH’s ‘Freud’s Last Session’ and The Greatest Debate That Never Happened
With its barebones staging and sharp dialogue, CAST PH’s stage reading of ‘Freud’s Last Session’ demonstrates that even the simplest of setups can leave the audience pondering about the everlasting debate between faith and reason.
Mothers, sons, and the Martial Law era in ‘Emulsyon’
As a twin bill, ‘Emulsyon’ makes perfect sense of how both plays are centered on a mother and son and the impacts of the Martial Law era in the Philippines, but contrasting in the tone and how the characters grapple with their realities.