Teatro Europa is back and better than ever. The first ever European theater festival in the country, with a focus on classic and contemporary pieces from various European Member States, stages a mix of virtual and physical performances.

The European Union (EU) Delegation to the Philippines, together with EU Member States, its cultural institutes and partner universities proudly opened Teatro Europa, the Third Edition, at the Rizal Park Open-Air Auditorium.

The Irish play, “Philadelphia, Here I come!” by Brian Friel was the featured opening performance by Teatro de Letran of Colegio de San Juan de Letran. This play was staged live for hundreds of students and theater enthusiasts in the Rizal Park Open-Air Auditorium.

Friel’s play is a tragi-comedy that centres around Gareth O’Donnell’s move to Philadelphia (US). The comic story is transposed to several circumstances in the Philippines.

This theatre festival brings out the best talents from the Filipino youth as they get immersed with the European culture. The EU Delegation is proud that this event continues to promote cultural exchange as the European Union celebrates the European International Year of the Youth this 2022.

Dr. Ana Isabel Sánchez Ruiz, Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines said that “Like in previous years, our University partners have put together a very rich, diverse and exciting program, including both classic masterpieces such as Lysistrata, Fuente Ovejuna or Waiting for Godot, and newer works such as the German play Rosemarie the Cow”.

“Tragedy, music, humour, suspense… our programme will go from existential topics such as the meaning of life, the human soul or the after-death, to the playful and the comical”.

Dr Sanchez Ruiz said that at the heart of Teatro Europa, there is the energy of the youth, passion, creativity, and the time and effort that they have devoted to these performances. “Truly, the youth are an important pillar of society, who make a global impact and will shape the future”.

Ireland’s Ambassador to the Philippines, William Carlos, remarked on the exceptional performance and adaptation of the Irish classic  “Philadelphia, Here I come” by the Teatro de Letran.

“This play deals with the full experience and emotions which follows from the decision to leave your homeland. In Ireland, the experience of emigration has shaped our country and culture in profound ways, and this history has huge resonance with the Philippines where the diaspora, or OFWs, are such are integral part of the Filipino reality and identity. The director took these universal and personal elements and really transformed the script into something that spoke to the local and modern audience, while also commenting on the hopes that emigration should be about opportunity, not necessity”.

Ambassador Carlos stressed that “This is a path Ireland has also travelled, and art has such a powerful and important role in shaping how we view our world. The actors really brought the characters to life with their vibrant performances, while the production and stage management teams also deserve special recognition for their outstanding work to deliver a visual and audio display that truly captured the attention and delighted the senses.”

Virtual and physical performances will run until 20 August where audiences will witness universities’ interpretation of carefully-curated pieces with re-runs from 22 August to 5 September.

This year, nine performances will be performed on-site while 10 will be staged online and 16 performances live streamed in the official Facebook Page of Teatro Europa @TeatroEuropaPH.   

With 17 universities nationwide (10 from Luzon, 3 from Visayas and 4 from Mindanao), Teatro Europa is bringing across the country the finest talents who are bringing to life never-before staged theatre plays.

This year, the following theater groups with their performances pieces include: 

1.           Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Teatro de Letran – Philadelphia, Here I Come by Brian Friel of Ireland adapted to Piladelpiya, Hirrr ay Kammm!

2.           Colegio San Augustin’s Kanlaon Theater Guild – The Elegance of the Molecule by Petr Zelenka of the Czech Republic

3.           Meridian International Business Arts and Technology (MINT) College’s MINTeatro – La Mandragola (The Mandrake) by Niccolò Machiavelli of Italy

4.           Mapúa University’s Mapúa Tekno Teatro – Antigone in Molenbeek by Stefan Hertmans of Belgium

5.           Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan’s The Xavier Stage – A Matter of Husbands by Ferenc Molnar of Hungary adapted to Give me back my Husband!

6.           Saint Louis University’s Tanghalang SLU – Fuente Ovejuna by Lope de Vega of Spain

7.           Mindanao State University – General Santos’ Basic Institute for Dramatic Arts – The Madman and the Nun by Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz of Poland adapted to Straitjacketed

8.           Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela’s PLV BACSTAGE- A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen of Denmark

9.           Jose Rizal Memorial State University – Dapitan Campus’s Teyatro Dasuliman – Miss Julie by August Strindberg of Sweden

10.         Rizal Technological University’s RTU Dulaang Rizalia- Lysistrata by Aristophanes of Greece

11.         Jose Rizal University’s Teatro Rizal – The Fourposter by Jan de Hartog of The Netherlands

12.         Asian Institute of Maritime Studies’ Layag Collective – The Bus by Stanislav Stratiev of Bulgaria

13.         Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina’s Batlaya Theater Guild – The Master by Hermann Bahr of Austria

14.         University of the East’s UE Drama Company – Cutting a Cake by Christoffer Mellgren of Finland

15.         La Salle University’s Teatro Guindegan – Auto da Alma (The Soul’s Journey) by Gil Vicente of Portugal adapted to Padayon

16.         University of San Augustin – Iloilo’s USA Little Theater – Rosemarie the Cow by Andri Beyeler of Germany adapted to Baka-Baka

17.         University of St. La Salle – Bacolod’s USLS Maskara Theatre Ensemble – Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett of France re-imagined into Godo

The EU Delegation to the Philippines is glad to have these universities on board as collaborators  and  it is grateful to venue partner,  the National Parks Development Committee  which is the venue for the official launch of  Teatro Europa2022.

The EU Delegation   is grateful to Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela, Saint Louis University in Baguio, Rizal Technological University, Jose Rizal University, both in Mandaluyong, MINT College in Taguig, University of San Agustin in Iloilo and University of St. Lasalle in Bacolod, for welcoming  Teatro Europa in their respective campuses.

Press Release