PETA kicks off the year with another exciting line-up of fresh and bold works with Control + Shift: Changing Narratives Festival, which brings new reimaginings of Filipino stories to the theater stage.
J-mee Katanyag, festival director and newly appointed company artistic director, has curated a collection of provocative original works that highlight the exploration of diverse performative and theater forms, including puppetry, movement, interactivity, and digital theater. These elements come together to reimagine traditional Filipino folklore, values, and contemporary issues, crafting narratives that traverse the past, engage with the present, and envision futures.
The festival’s centerpiece is a remounting of Melvin Lee’s critically acclaimed trilogy Kumprontasyon, as well as new and experimental works, improv performances, live music jams, and more, which will take place from February 6-23, 2025, at the PETA Theater Center in New Manila, Quezon City.
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The following events and shows are open to the public:
Main Theater Performances
“Kumprontasyon”
February 6-9, PETA-Phinma Theater
Described by critics as a “theatrical masterpiece,” Kumprontasyon explores unresolved historical and political events in three one-act plays: Allan Palileo’s Lakambini featuring Teroy Guzman and Sherry Lara, Guelan Luarca’s The Impossible Dream featuring Romnick Sarmenta and Ron Capinding, and Joshua Lim So’s A Color for Tomorrow featuring Missy Maramara, Adrienne Vergara, Gillian Vicencio, and Uzziel Delamide.
“Twin Bill”
February 14-15, PETA-Phinma Theater
Twin Bill features two revisited plays from Control + Shift 2024: Dominique La Victoria’s Kislap at Fuego (featuring CJ Navato and Felicity Kyle Napuli), an enchanted love story set during the Philippine revolution, and Mixkaela Villalon’s Children of the Algo, which navigates the digital age and the ills of a technology-obsessed generation.
“Control + Shift + SPIT: An Improvised Show”
Feb 16, 2025 – 8:00 PM, PETA-Phinma Theater
This one-night-only show features The Silly People’s Improv Theater (SPIT), Manila’s most sought-after improv group. SPIT borrows the set of PETA’s Control + Shift 2025 Festival for a night of spontaneous hilarity and fun!
Studio Theater Performances
PETA’s Studio Theater lineup features eight new works, running from February 7-16, 2025.
- Studio Theater Set A | Unboxing – Felinda V. Bagas’ The Little Girl in a Box takes audiences on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. A story about a little girl and her search for her true home.
- Studio Theater Set B | Time and Tide – Sig Pecho’s Failed Puppeteer and Felinda V. Bagas’ Noche Buena highlights how Filipino family values adapt through generations and in times of crisis.
- Studio Theater Set C | Codes of Corruption – Herlyn Alegre’s Monit-oh! Monit-ah! and John Custer’s hUst1Sy@.exe underscores how Filipino values are tested in the face of corruption and the pursuit of justice, exploring both traditional and modern ethical dilemmas.
- Studio Theater Set D | Breaking Free – Teatro Balagtas’ Ang Kuwento ni Babae, PETA ARTSZone Youth ARTvocates’ Taya! Sabay Yakap, and Tanghalang Bagong Sibol and Mikaela Regis’ At Nagkatawang-Tao Ang Verbo reimagines dominant narratives of gender, childcare, and faith through stories of resilience and empathy.
Metrobank-Exclusive Sale
From January 15-19, 2025, Metrobank credit cardholders will enjoy an exclusive sale when they buy tickets via TicketWorld. Cardholders can select their desired event from the Control+Shift Arts Festival line-up and enjoy 10% off on their tickets.
Metrobank is PETA’s official 2025 theater season bank partner and a platinum partner of Control + Shift: Changing Narratives Festival. Festival tickets are now on sale via bit.ly/PETACS2025Tickets.Tickets start at Php 700 for Studio Theater performances and Php 1,000 for Main Theater performances.
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