THEATER National Artist contributed in the progress of the
Philippine Theater:
THEATER
It is one of the oldest and most popular forms of
entertainment.Actors perform live for an audience on a
stage or in an other space designated for the
performance.
The American introduced the Bodabil or Stage
Show
Bodabil is genre of variety entertainment is composed
of song and dance numbers, slapstick comedy
routines, magic acts, and chorus girls -- an
indigenized version of the American vaudeville.
The bodabil in the American period was not a
form of stage play since it was composed
mainly of songs, dances, and skits.
It was during the Japanese period the bodabil include
short melodrama
The Educational system established by the
American in the country paved the way to the
development of legitimate theater.
Through the Western education,
● Production of sheakspearean plays
● Other western contemporary classics
entered the scene
In the early stage of a Philippine Theater:
● Western culture greatly influenced theater
production
● Theater artist tend to imitate popular American
actors and Actresses
● The Philippine theater was Americanized
Later on…..
Because of the exposure to different styles and
dramatic theories
The Filipinos were able to expand their horizon and:
● Create stage plays
● Reflect Philippine realities and set up
Filipinos in the field of theater started to experiment
on the traditional theater forms like:
● Sarswela
● Senakulo
● Comedya
● Lamberto Avellana
● Severino Montano
● Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero
Different styles were employed in the Philippine
contemporary theater:
1. Representational style composed of
psychological and
social realism
a. Psychological realism-deals with the problems of
individual.
b. Social realism-deals with the problems of
individual considering their society
Psychological Realism
“Paraisong Parisukat”- Orlando Nadre
“Bayan-Bayanan”- Bienvenido Noriega
“Paraisong Parisukat”
This play in Filipino is a story of the masses the
inhabitants of the world, the human being. It portrays
the "ambitious and ambitionless, virtuous and vicious
together, the simple, the common, the unknown, the
popular and the poor, the rude.
BAYAN-BAYANAN
was known for its Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)
theme. Their only recess is the company of each other
and the lingering thought of going back to the
Philippines. These Filipinos blindly maneuver
themselves in Europe in search of greener pasture for
themselves and some, for their families.
Social Realism
“The world is an Apple”- Alberto Florentino
This play depicts social realities, particularly of the
problems of the urban poor.
“The world is an Apple”
It tells the story of a couple who has no money to buy
food for their children. His husband spent their money
for his vices and he lost his job for stealing. Falsely
figuring out the situation as misfortune he left his wife
and daughter, went back to his partner in crime and
did crimes again to have money.
2. Presentational style which highlights discussion
of social studies.
a. The people on the field of theater employed this
style during the Marcos regime since realistic
portrayal was prohibited.
b. Use of different methods like dance,
song, mime, etc. to summon ideas from the audience.
“Theater of the Oppressed”- Augosto Boal

3. Documentary style which tends to discuss

historical events.
“Mayo A-biente Uno”- Al Santos
Dula-dula(short drama poem)- form of theater art
that emerged

Different Theater art Forms today:

● Musicals with contemporary themes
● Dance dramas employing ethnic music and
choreography
● Plays mixing realistic and non-realistic
styles
● Traditional drama forms with contemporary
messages

In Regional Scene:
The National Theater Festivals of the CCP involved
performances of Theater arts group.
a. Luzon- “Cultural Workers” from Bicol
b. Visayas-“Dumaans sarswela group” from Silay
City
And “Dagyaw Theater and Dance Company”
from Iloilo City
c. Mindanao- “Kaliwat Theater Collective” and
“Sining Kambyoka Ensemble”