Group 3: Theater

What is Theater?
Theatre also spelled theater, refers to an art form that
involves performing carefully planned actions and
emotions in front of an audience. The word theatre is
derived from the Greek theaomai, “to see,” the
performance itself may appeal either to the ear or to
the eye. The philippine theater is described as a wide
range of mimetic performances that were created and
presented during occasions. These performances are
also presented with specific social objectives in mind. 
Elements of Theater
 By Maria Jovita Zarate
Theater Review
Charot!
Presented by the Philippine
Educational Theater Association (PETA)
Written by Michelle Ngu and J-mee Katanyag
Directed by Maribel Legarda
PETA Theater Center, #5 Eymard Drive,
New Manila, Quezon City

PERFORMERS- these are persons who are onstage and

portray their characters in a convincing way for the
audience.
AUDIENCE- the performers have to present in front of an
audience and connect with them. They tend to respond to the
energy the audience shows while watching the play.
DIRECTOR- the director serves as an overseer to the
entire production. He or she ensures that the
performers are doing their job well including
understanding and delivering the text. The director
also ensures that the production design works well
Freddie Santos directed and wrote some of the most well-known musicals in
Philippine theater including First Name, Joseph the Dreamer and Sabel: Love
and Passion. Santos dies at 64
Source: Rappler
PERFORMANCE SPACE- this element may refer to
the space in which the actors can perform. It may
also refer to the space for the audience to sit or
stand.
DESIGN- the design is essential in placing the
overall feel of the production. These are two
aspects of design. Visual aspects include
lighting, set, and costumes, while nonvisual
aspects primarily include sound.
TEXT- this refers to the script. This must be
present in a particular play or production.
Forms and Types of Philippine
Theater
 A typology of Philippine theater was
developed based on another typology created
by Dr. Prospero R. Covar, a Filipino
anthropologist. In this typology, there are four
dramatic traditions based on where
contemporary theater takes place: the dulang
pahiyang (rituals), the dulambayan (people’s
theater), the teatrong pansimbahan (church-
related theater), and theater as art.
Dulang Pahiyang

RITUALS- a ritual is described
as a way to communicate with
gods or spirits.
BAYOK- the bayok is a Maranao mimetic joust.
The theme of the joust depends on the occasion.
Two or more singers interpret the theme in a
spontaneous song-dance-debate. The singers,
however, have to be careful in articulating verses
in order to avoid heated conflict.
DUPLO- the duplo is described as a poetic debate,
in which the balagtasan was derived from. The
balagtasan involves poems with four lines with
12 syllables per line.
BALITAW- the balitaw is a poetic debate between a
man and a woman. Although the term “balitaw” may
also refer to the song and its lyrics, or the dance, it
may also refer to the entire performance itself since it
exhibits an exchange of words in a hypothetical
situation. The balitaw later evolved into drama
balitaw, which involves Portraying a particular story on
stage with minimal set.
Dulambayan
 ‘Militant priests’ in Mindanao encouraged church-based community theater in Filipino theater artists perform a ‘La Pieta’ scene during a short musical
parishes and on religious holidays. This began in the sixties with an alliance between about the killings under the Philippine government’s anti-drug campaign,
PETA and the church. Photo c/o Karl Gaspar. in Pandacan city, metro Manila, Philippines April 2, 2017. (REUTERS)

DRAMA SIMBOLIKO – this refers to allegorical
nationalist drama which began during the American
regime. However, this was revived during the
Marcos regime.
STREET THEATER- this refers to theater that is
presented outside the theater building and without
the stage area. The political theater is a form of
street theater. However, street theater can also be
applied in rituals and religious plays.
 Teatrong
Pansimbahan
KOMEDYA- the komedya is a play in verse that
portrays the lives of saints. However, the
komedya may also depict actual events, or
tales about royalty in the kingdoms of Africa,
Europe, Arabia, and Persia.

DAPIT- Dapit refers to the tradition of fetching

the image of the community’s patron saint.
This is usually done the night before the fiesta
or even on the day itself. A typical dapit
involves escorting the image from the house of
the caretaker to the church, accompanied with
music played by the brass band and dance.
FLORES- Flores, which is presented in the HUDAS- this refers to the burning of the
month of May, has three variations. It may image of Judas Iscariot, which is popular
refer to the festival of flowers in honor of In Bulacan, Pampanga, and Cebu. This
Mary, mother of Jesus ( flores de Mayo), the is usually held on the evening of
everyday offering of flowers to the image of Black Saturday or on the morning
the Virgin (alay), or the closing procession on of Easter Sunday.
the last Sunday of May (flores de Maria).
Another variant of the flores is the sunduan,
which involves males fetching young ladies and
going together with the procession. People
participating in the sunduan carry beautiful
arrangements of flowers.
 HULING HAPUNAN- this is an actual supper
enacted to commemorate the last supper of
Jesus with his disciples on the night before His
crucifixion.

MORIONES- this is a short street play

portraying the capture and beheading of
Roman soldier Longinus, who was involved in
the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

PAGHUHUGAS NG PAA- this short ritual

reenacts Christ washing the feet of his disciples
before the Last Supper. This ritual
demonstrates humility and serving others.
PANUNULUYAN- this is a procession that
reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn in
Bethlehem. This involves using two karo or
floats, which bear the images of Mary and
Joseph, and singing of one male and one
female singer accompanied by a brass band.

PASTORES OR SHEPHERDS’ DANCE- this is a

reenactment of shepherds honoring the infant
Jesus. This is typically presented before
Christmas Day. In some areas, pastores
involves a group of singers dressed as
shepherds who go to every house in the area
singing and dancing to Christmas songs.

OSANA- the osana is a short reenactment of

the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ to
Jerusalem.
PANGANGALULUWA- this refers to a tradition
involving carolers who got to each house in the
community to act like souls in purgatory and
beg for alms.

SIETE PALABRAS- this is a reenactment of the

last three hours of Jesus Christ on the cross. It
was during this time when the Seven Last
Words were stated.

SENAKULO- A sinakulo is a play performed

during the Holy Week. It depicts the story of
salvation, starting from the creation of the
world up to the life, death, and resurrection of
Jesus Christ. The traditional sinakulo evolved
and is now depicting the struggle between
sectors and classes.
 SALUBONG- this short SOLEDAD- this procession, which
reenactment focuses on the is usually performed late in the
meeting of Mary, mother of evening portrays Mary’s grief
Jesus, and Jesus Christ after burying Jesus Christ.
who rose from the dead.

ITATLONG HARI- this is reenactment of the VIA CRUCIS- this tradition is a way of
travel of the Magi to worship the Infant Jesus remembering the events leading to Christ’s
in Bethlehem. death and burial.
Theater as Arts
 Under this category is based on Western models.

 Theater is viewed as profession.

 Puppet Theater is another example. This is also frequently

performed in schools. This is a form of drama in which puppets
portray the roles of the characters in the story. These puppets can be
flat figures that cast shadows on a screen. Rounded miniature
figures that are controlled by the puppeteer can also be used. These
rounded figures can be manipulated using hands, rods, strings, or
wires.

 Another example of theater as art is opera, which refers to a form of

musical theater that was introduced in the Philippines during the
late 19th century.

 Theater can also be classified based on influences seen in the form.

These are indigenous theater, plays with Spanish influence, and
theater with Anglo-American influence.
Indigenous Theater
PLAYS WITH SPANISH INFLUENCE- these plays
include drama, komedya, sinakulo, and
sarswela. A sarswela is considered to be the
most popular form of musical theater in the
Philippines. It is generally described as a
musical play with a particular structure and
standards. Themes depicted in sarswelas
usually revolve in Filipino domestic and social
situations.
 Theater w/ Anglo-
American Influence
Rufus Collins, Mark Zeisler, and Malcolm Ingram in SHERLOCK’S
LAST CASE. Photo: T. Charles Erickson
BODABIL – the bodabil is a stage presentation
that consists of a range of musical and comedy
acts, skits and monologues, novelty and
acrobatic numbers, solos and chorus lines.
During the 1980’s, this was used mainly as a
form of political theater. Nowadays, the
bodabil is performed during town fiestas, in
film musicals, and in radio.
Presentational Play
 BRECHTIAN THEATER- this is also known as theater
DOCUMENTARY STYLE- this is performed
of instruction. Inspired by Bertolt Brecht, this play
to connect historical persons and events
features a social orientation and utilizes mime,
to the present.
dances, song, stylized sets and costumes, and typical
characters. Themes are usually taken from history,
folklore, and other sources.

DULA-TULA- the dula-tula is a variant of the dramatic

monologue, which involves one actor speaking while
acting out his emotions and thoughts. However, in
the dula-tula, other characters are present to play all
the parts, and one actor simply acts as the narrator
and is the only person speaking in the play. This was
first performed by UP Repertory Company during the
early 1970’s
The End
Any Questions?