Repertory Company

The UP Repertory Company

History: A Very Rich Heritage

The UP Repertory Company is a non-stock, non-profit student organization that continually aims to raise the social consciousness of the Filipino audience through theater. It was established by director Behn Cervantes in 1972 as an answer to the University’s need for a responsible performing group. In response to the worsening social conditions prevalent in those days, the company established a tradition of plays that mirrors the lives of Filipinos.

Being a student organization, the Company has continually striven to train its members both in the artistic and technical aspects of theater such as costume making, set-construction, lighting design, as well as acting, directing and writing. These activities are conducted by inviting veterans of the theater world as well as the Company’s alumni as teachers and workshop facilitators. Aside from being a repertory that spreads awareness, it also opened its doors to everyone who is willing to learn the world of theater by conducting free workshops to anyone who is willing to learn new theater skills.

Theater of the Masses

Since its conception, the University of the Philippines Repertory Company has mounted socially relevant plays, mostly written by our very own national writers such as Rogelio Sicat and Nick Joaquin just to name a few. In its 44 years of existence, UP Rep has continued to contribute to the development of its members’ skills as well as to the enrichment of Philippine theater.

Every year the UP Rep stages two major theater seasons; several minor performances, mostly street theater. Among the list of plays presented through the years under the artistic directorship of behn Cervantes have been Rogelio Sicat’s Moses, Moses, 1974; Bonifacio Ilagan’s Pagsamabang Bayan, 1977, 1980, 1984; Nick Joaquin’s Larawan (A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino), 1977; Rene Villanueva’s May Isang Sundalo (There Was a Soldier), 1982; and a rock opera based on Richie Valencia’s Iskolar ng Bayan (Scholar of the People), 1980.

Pools of Talents

It has been the cradle and home to prominent artists who have shared their talents with television productions, movies, print media, radio and education. Artists who were members of UP Rep include: Ces Quesada (TV actress), Bibeth Orteza (writer/producer), Joi Barrios (writer/professor), Menggie Cobarrubias (character actress), Rory Quintos (director), Eric Pineda (couturier), La Verne Lacap (production manager, Tanghalang Pilipino) and Ching Arellano (character actor).

In 2001, the UP Repertory Company was named University Performing Group (UPG) by UP-Diliman administration. UP Rep is the only student-theater organization given such a title to date. Previously, the Company was named Most Outstanding Special Interest Group in 1983 and Most Outstanding Student Organization in 1985 by U.P. It was cited by the Aliw Awards for Best Cultural Series in 1987.

"Tula-Dula"

As its contribution to Philippine theater, the Company has developed a significant variant of the lightning/street play called the "tula-dula" (poem-play). The "tula-dula", developed by Cecile de Joya, is a lightning play where actors act out a mime to a poem being read aloud by readers. The “tula-dula” has been used by the Company in various venues, and is still being used to this date. It performed its first full-length “tula-dula” entitled “UP ng Ina” which was written by UP Rep’s own writers’ pool in 2000.

In pursuing its aims of bringing theater to the masses, the Company has performed in a number of venues such as schools, universities, towns and small communities outside the University: Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Cotabato, and Negros Occidental. Whether performing in a big venue or a small plaza, the Company has continually strived to ingrain in its audience the importance of theater.

Performances

The UP Repertory Company is open to your invitations for performances.

We are also a pool of talents, actors, directors, singers, dancers, stage managers, emcees, etc. so for more information or invites you may contact us through our Facebook Page [1] or visit us at our tambayan (Vinzon's Hall, Room 104-B)