“While I write the land with chiseled words, they wrote the land with their blood.” – National Artist F. Sionil Jose
For its 38th theater season, Tanghalang Pilipino revolts against factors de-meaning humanity and ushers in transformation rooted in love for country and, by extension, oneself.
“TP will continue to REVOLT against existing evil forces that have destroyed, and are continuously destroying the innate HUMAN GOODNESS, COMPASSION, and LOVE for fellow human beings,” said TP artistic director Tata Nanding Josef.
The artistic revolution starts with Balete, a devised theater based on National Artist F. Sionil Jose’s novel Tree and his autobiography Promdi, devised from award-winning playwright Rody Vera’s Filipino stage adaptation Balete.
Balete runs from Sept. 13 to Oct. 6, at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Blackbox Theater), with 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. shows.
The season-opener follows the profound journey of a provincial landlord’s son back to a childhood filled with poignancy and brutality – a world bound in privilege, tradition, and feudal oppression.
In this groundbreaking theater production, the Tanghalang Pilipino Actor’s Company tackles the epic sweep of the elegiac novel through a rich tapestry of movement and visual storytelling.
The eight-member ensemble – composed of actors Nonie Buencamino, Jonathan Tadioan, Marco Viaña, Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan, Toni Go-Yadao, Gelo Molina, Earvin Estioco, and Ynna Rafa – delves deep into the intricacies of memory, tradition, and the powerful ties that bind the individual, family and community.
Directed by Chris Millado, each chapter of the novel is staged as a unique creation brought to life by the talented cast’s collective imagery and emotional depth. A theatrical experience portraying the delicate dance between personal memory and collective trauma.
The production staff includes associate direction and movement direction by Delphine Buencamino; music and sound design by Teresa Barrozo; set design by Wika Nadera; costume design by Carlos Siongco; projection design by Jana Jimenez; light design by Roman Cruz; and dramaturgy by Sabrina Basilio.
In a devised theater, the artists collaborate to collectively create a performance from scratch. Through improvisation, discussion, and rigorous experimentation, the ensemble generates original material that reflects the diverse perspectives of the acting ensemble and the creative collaborators.
This method challenges traditional hierarchies in theater-making, placing equal importance on all contributors and often leading to innovative, non-linear narratives that resonate with contemporary audiences.
Through the Balete, Tanghalang Pilipino continues to revolt for human rights, justice, love, and peace in our country and the world.
