In a time when everything competes for instant attention, there is something quietly grounding about theatre that asks you to slow down—to sit still, to listen, to feel. As it enters its eighty-ninth season, Repertory Philippines leans into that idea with By Love, Transformed, a year of productions that examine love in its many guises: romantic and unruly, idealistic and tender, enduring in ways both familiar and surprising.
Rather than chasing spectacle, the 2026 season feels intentionally paced, moving between intimacy and scale, classic texts and thoughtful reinvention. Across staged readings, a beloved musical, a reimagined fairy tale, and a Shakespearean favorite, the emphasis is on storytelling that lingers.
Beginning with the Essentials
The season opens with REP Unplugged: Staged Readings Reimagined (March 21, 22, 28, and 29, 2026, at the REP Eastwood Theater), a return to theatre in its most pared-down form. Without elaborate sets or effects, attention settles where it belongs—on language, timing, and performance.
Noel Coward’s Private Lives, directed by REP artistic director Jeremy Domingo, leans into the pleasure of sharp dialogue and complicated romance, while Anton Chekhov’s The Proposal, directed by Cara Barredo, finds humor in human pettiness and absurdity. Together, the readings offer something intimate and quietly indulgent: theatre that trusts the material—and the audience.
Dreaming on a Larger Scale
In June, the season opens outward with The Man of La Mancha (June 5–28, 2026), staged in partnership with the Manila Symphony Orchestra. Set within the confines of a Spanish dungeon, the musical frames Miguel de Cervantes’s story of Don Quixote as a reflection on why imagination matters.
Directed by Nelsito Gomez, the production treats idealism not as naïveté but as a necessary act of defiance. It is a reminder that dreaming—especially in difficult circumstances—can be an expression of resilience.
A Softer Kind of Magic
August brings Cinderella: A Tale of the Glass Slipper from REP’s Theater for Young Audiences. Directed by Joy Virata and Cara Barredo, this version favors warmth and nuance over spectacle.
This Cinderella is less about transformation through magic and more about quiet strength, helped along by a loyal rat companion named Putterman and a Fairy Godmother who recognizes courage in small acts. It is a gentle introduction to theatre for young audiences, grounded in kindness, perseverance, and grace.
Shakespeare, Lightly Worn
The season closes in September with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, staged at Saint Cecilia’s Hall in St. Scholastica’s College, Manila. Directed by Jeremy Domingo in collaboration with the college, the production approaches Shakespeare with clarity and playfulness.
As lovers wander through an enchanted forest, losing and finding themselves along the way, the familiar chaos unfolds with ease. It is Shakespeare at his most accessible—romantic, funny, and quietly wise.
Beyond the Curtain
Alongside its productions, REP continues its work offstage through education and training. The REP Workshop for the Performing Arts runs from April to May 2026 at the REP Eastwood Theater and from June to July 2026 at MINT College in Taguig, offering instruction in acting, singing, and movement for participants of different ages.
The REP Learning Curve Masterclass Series adds another layer, opening conversations around directing, playwriting for young audiences, puppetry, and what it actually means to build a life in theatre—practical, candid, and rooted in experience.
A Season Meant to Be Lived With
Now in its eighty-ninth year, Repertory Philippines approaches 2026 with a sense of care and continuity. By Love, Transformed reads less like a theme than an invitation—to spend time with stories, to return to the theatre not for distraction but for connection. The task is simple: take a seat, stay awhile, and see what changes.
Read more Stories on Simpol.ph
Elegance on Parade at Queen Isabela 2026
Arabelle Dela Cruz Makes History as Grand Champion of Veiled Cup Korea
