There’s a certain thrill in watching theater when nothing stands between the performer and the audience—no towering sets, no elaborate illusions, just the quiet tension of actors breathing life into a story. That’s the spirit behind REP Unplugged, the newest offering from Repertory Philippines as it launches its 89th season. REP Unplugged Repertory Philippines staged readings are set to redefine the local theater experience.
At the REP Eastwood Theater, the company is stepping away from its usual large-scale productions to explore something more intimate. The series features reimagined staged readings designed to blur the traditional lines between stage and spectator—sometimes quite literally. Guests may find themselves seated onstage, inches away from the action, as the performers deliver the text in its most stripped-down form, a hallmark of REP Unplugged Repertory Philippines staged readings.
For REP president and CEO Mindy Perez-Rubio, the concept is about bringing audiences closer to the heart of the performance. “Our goal is to create a more intimate and immersive theatrical experience,” she explains. In practice, that means interactive staging, flowing wine, and postshow “talkback” conversations that make the evening feel less like a formal production and more like an elegant cultural gathering.
A Classic with Bite: Private Lives
The first half of the series leans into classic theater. Running March 21–22, Private Lives—the beloved comedy by Noël Coward—delivers the kind of sharp wit and social elegance longtime theatergoers associate with the golden age of stage comedies.
Directed by Jeremy Domingo, the play follows a divorced couple who unexpectedly discover they have booked adjoining hotel suites while honeymooning with their new partners. The setup quickly spirals into a whirlwind of bickering, flirtation, and rekindled chemistry, all showcased in REP Unplugged Repertory Philippines staged readings.
Actors Missy Maramara and Alfredo Reyes take on the roles of the combustible ex-lovers at the center of the story, joined by Karylle Tatlonghari, Hans Eckstein, and Sevee Eslabra. Expect plenty of glamorous nostalgia—along with the kind of razor-sharp dialogue that still feels deliciously modern nearly a century after it was written.
A Contemporary Satire: Sole Survivor
If Private Lives brings vintage sophistication, the second installment pushes firmly into the present. Running March 28–29, Sole Survivor marks the Philippine debut of a darkly comic new play by Patricia Manuel Go.
Directed by Cara Barredo, the story follows Filipino-British twins—played by Giannina Ocampo Van Hoven and Markki Stroem—who embark on an increasingly ruthless quest that stretches from Makati to Manhattan. The unlikely catalyst: a single designer shoe.
What begins as a stylish, fast-paced comedy slowly reveals a sharper edge. Beneath the humor lies a reflection on ambition, consumption, and the lengths people will go to claim what they believe they deserve. Moreover, the REP Unplugged Repertory Philippines staged readings format enhances the immediacy and impact of the stories.
Theater as a Night Out
Part of the charm of REP Unplugged is its setting. Located within the buzz of Eastwood Citywalk 2 in Quezon City, the theater series naturally lends itself to a full evening out—dinner nearby, a glass of wine during the performance, and a lively discussion afterward.
More than anything, however, REP Unplugged is a reminder of theater’s simplest and most powerful form. Strip away the spectacle, and what remains is the raw connection between story, performer, and audience—exactly the kind of magic that first drew people to the stage.
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