By Ellicia Frentzen C. Del Mundo
The COVID-19 pandemic did not stop the European Union Delegation to the Philippines to stage its first ever Teatro Europa, albeit online, last year. This year is no different.
“Teatro Europa, The Second Edition” features 16 theater plays selected from various countries in Europe. Genres include comedy, tragedy, drama, and romance.
“It [Teatro Europa] provides an opportunity to showcase the diversity of European culture to the Filipino audience. Specifically, it shares an artistic tradition that continues to entertain, educate, and critique contemporary society in Europe today,” French Ambassador to the Philippines Michèle Boccoz said in an online press conference.
The chosen European classics will be performed by 16 partner universities – including the original seven from last year – from Metro Manila, Baguio, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, and Ozamiz City.
“Teatro Europa provides a platform for artistic Filipino youth to share their talents in acting, directing, and production design,” said EU Ambassador Luc Véron.
The following are the participating universities with their assigned European classic pieces: Colegio de San Juan de Letrán –“Tartuffe” by Moliere of France; Saint Louis University – “Rur” by Karel ÄŒapek of the Czech Republic; Wesleyan University – “Pariah” by August Strindberg of Sweden; University of the East – “Life’s a Dream” by Pedro Calderon de la Barca of Spain; University of Makati – “The Horrid Little Princess” by Geneviève Damas of Belgium; Meridian International College – “The Salt Princess” of Hungary; University of San Agustin – “Snow” by Stanislaw Przybyszewski of Poland; De La Salle University – “Erasmus Montanus” by Ludvig Holberg of Denmark.
Also joining this year’s virtual theater festival are: Mapua University – “Riders to the Sea” by John Millington Synge of Ireland; Jose Rizal University – “The Birds” by Aristophanes of Greece; Arellano University – “II Vero Amico” by Carlo Goldoni of Italy; Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina – “Lucifer” by Josst van den Vondel of the Netherlands; First City Providential College – “La Ronde” by Arthur Schnitzler of Austria; Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela – “My Three Angels” by Sam and Bella Spewack of Romania; University of St. La Salle – “Broken Heart Story” by Saara Turunen of Finland; Rizal Technological University – “Leonce and Lena” by Georg Büchner of Germany.
Full performances will be live-streamed on the official Teatro Europa Facebook page from August 1 to 31. Reruns start on September 1 to 30.
In addition to the virtual showcase, the EU plans to conduct a limited live theater performance on August 28 in Intramuros and a series of webinars with known theater directors on the similarities, intersections, and differences between Philippine theater and European theater.
