Company

Vision

Sixty years ago, we imagined a future where theatre would grow into a sustainable industry—one that empowers artists to earn a living through their craft. That vision has been realized.

Guided by our core values, beliefs, and objectives, we now aspire to spark a cultural shift—one where theatre is not only entertainment, but a vital and enduring part of everyday life. For over six decades, REP has championed the growth of the performing arts in service of Philippine culture. Today, we build on that legacy by placing our focus on outreach: nurturing, teaching, and training passionate artists to further develop their skills and voices.

This is our renewed vision.

Through Repertory Theatre for Young Audiences (RTYA)—our Children’s Theatre—we aim to inspire children and make theatre an active, meaningful part of their lives. We envision a community where every child has access to drama and theatre; where every city has a theatre for young audiences; where every community has a youth theatre; and where every school offers a theatre arts curriculum.

Our commitment to education continues through our Annual Summer Workshops, which cultivate a love for the performing arts and help young people build confidence, creativity, and self-expression. Through The Learning Curve, a scholarship program for deserving and passionate artists, we provide free training led by professional local and international artists—equipping students with the skills they need to grow, excel, and participate on a global stage.

Mission

At REP, our mission is to enrich lives through the power of theatre. By 2030, we aim to be the country’s leading home for outstanding local live theatre in English—creating experiences that move, inspire, and bring people together.

We believe that live performances have the power to connect people, build empathy, and deepen our understanding of one another through shared human stories.

We are committed to producing high-quality and diverse theatrical works—from classics and comedies to straight plays, musicals, and Shakespeare. Through these productions, we want to inspire people and create a theatre culture that includes everyone and reflects who we are as a country.

Objectives & Goals

To achieve our goal of making our country a leading force in the world of theater, we are dedicated to the principles of excellence, inclusivity, diversity, engagement, empowerment, technology, and recognition. We aim to be a thriving organization that is fiscally sound, and has endowed reserves to support its programming and most importantly its beneficiaries.

By adhering to these principles, we envision a future where our country stands at the forefront of the global theater community, celebrated for its achievements, diversity, and the impact it has on the lives of individuals. Join us on this journey as we strive to enrich lives and shape the future of theater in the Philippines.

Artistic Excellence: We will consistently produce high-quality, innovative, and thought-provoking performances that push artistic boundaries and elevate the standards of theatrical expression.
Inclusivity and Diversity: We will embrace and celebrate the diversity of voices, perspectives, and talents, ensuring that our stages reflect the breadth of our nation’s cultural mosaic.
Community Engagement: We will actively engage with communities across the country, fostering a deep connection between theater and society. Through educational programs, partnerships, and outreach, we aim to make theater accessible to all.
Empowering Artists: We will provide a supportive and nurturing environment for artists, encouraging creativity, experimentation, and collaboration. Our commitment to artist development will contribute to a thriving and dynamic theater scene.
Technological Innovation: We will leverage technology to enhance the theatrical experience, exploring new ways to engage audiences and push the boundaries of storytelling in the digital age.
Global Recognition: We will actively promote our country’s theater on the international stage, collaborating with artists and organizations worldwide to elevate our standing and contribute to the global cultural conversation.

Values & Beliefs

We believe in fostering an enthusiastic, appreciated and hard working corps of individuals who serve as staff, volunteers and Board members.
We believe in collaborating and developing strategic partnerships with various organizations that are constructive, positive, and advantageous to advancing our mission and goals.
We believe in inspiring and helping children make theatre an active part of their lives by providing them with sponsorships in Workshops and encouraging them to watch our shows.
We believe in providing free opportunities to those who wish to make a livelihood by expressing their art through the theatrical experience.
We believe in fostering an enthusiastic, appreciated and hard working corps of individuals who serve as staff, volunteers and Board members.
We believe in collaborating and developing strategic partnerships with various organizations that are constructive, positive, and advantageous to advancing our mission and goals.
We believe in inspiring and helping children make theatre an active part of their lives by providing them with sponsorships in Workshops and having them watch our shows.
We believe in providing free opportunities to those who wish to make a livelihood by expressing their art through the theatrical experience.
We believe in providing aid and assistance to struggling artists.
We are committed to upholding the dignity of individuals, and we foster and cultivate discipline among our cast members and the workforce. We uphold a zero-tolerance policy for disrespectful behavior.

Our History

People embarking on the highly implausible and the seemingly impossible are more often than not considered “slightly mad” if not downright crazy. Yet it is from these people’s madcap minds that some of the greatest ideas are born. Repertory Philippines is one of them. In a world where only those with independent incomes could do theater and at a time when there was no theater industry let alone plays produced on a regular basis, six idealists thought to put up a theater group that would change all that.

These idealists wanted to mount commercially viable plays without sacrificing skill and artistry on a regular basis; to attract would-be artists and train them, and, where theater afficionados could enjoy the best of Broadway fare without actually going to Broadway. A pretty tall order by all accounts in 1967 – but Zeneida Amador, Baby Barredo, Leo Martinez and Tony and Monina Mercado marched to it! On a rainy evening in March of 1967, the fledgling theater company performed “Miss Julia” to an audience of seven… and the rest – as the cliché goes – is history.

Fifty-seven years and over 480 productions later, Repertory Philippines has fulfilled all its initial goals…and then some. Through the years, Rep has consistently trained and developed budding actors, aided fledgling theater companies, and always produced at least five productions a year, averaging at least 150 performances annually. These productions range from conventional and contemporary classics to frothy farces, deep drama and magnificent musicals. These include LES MISERABLES, MAN OF LA MANCHA, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, EVITA, MIONG, EQUUS, AMADEUS, SWEENEY TODD, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, and ROMEO AND JULIET, just to name a few.

In the past 30 years, Rep has also been reaching and teaching the youth through the Repertory Theatre for Young Audiences… encouraging theater appreciation early through enjoyable and educational offerings such as PINOCCHIO, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN JR., JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, RAPUNZEL, THE QUEST FOR THE ADARNA and many more. REP’s RTYA is now moving towards creating and performing stories based on Philippine folk tales and folklore. Moreover, the regularity and frequency of REP productions has not only made possible the development of a theater audience, but it has also enabled Repertory Philippines to effectively achieve its vision to employ and train actors and production people. Proof positive of the quality of training at REP is the number of “alumni” who have become household names in entertainment both locally and internationally – making their mark not only in theater but also in television, film and the concert scene. Many of these names have also gone on to form their own theater companies, many of which have been supported constantly by REP.

Considered the most prestigious theater company in the country, and one of the top English Theater companies in the Far East, Repertory Philippines is a vital part of a thriving vibrant theater industry filling its specific niche as an actor oriented training company; with a loyal following and an ever growing audience; and a truly special place in the hearts of theater-practitioners and theatergoers in the Philippines, with the specific charter of continuing their outreach to teach and train passionate young (and old) artists, as well as produce plays to benefit the community.

About the Company

It is the only theater company that never ceases to teach and train young, deserving and passionate actors. REP produces western plays – both modern and the classics – non-stop throughout the year except for the summer months when attention turns to Performing Arts workshops and their corresponding showcase productions, to further educate deserving students. To this date it has staged 469 productions — each running from 12 to over 60 performances. One of its past musical productions, LES MISERABLES, a full local production by REP under Cameron Mackintosh’s approval and directed by Zeneida Amador, was called the best musical and perhaps the best musical ever in the country and in Southeast Asia.

At present REP has one regular season of three plays. Classics, comedies, dramas and sometimes a small scale musical are a regular part of each season. The rest of the year is taken up by a musical for young audiences, and time permitting, a big Broadway musical production. Recently REP has taken to creating at least one or two local, original plays in every season, putting it in a Philippine setting, although all the plays are performed in English.

The children are not forgotten. The REP THEATER FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES, now on its 30th year, stages professional productions of classic children’s musicals on weekends and during the week for schools. Children from as far as Tarlac are bussed in to watch our shows. Which are performed at staggeringly low ticket prices to make it affordable for the students. Ms. Joy Virata is its Founder and Artistic Director.

REP sustains a summer Performing Arts Workshop attended by more than 200 children and adults each, many of whom are scholars.

But Repertory Philippines is not just a production outfit. It has also been the best-known training ground for actors having produced the likes of Lea Salonga who first appeared with REP when she was six years old and then played the lead in ANNIE when she was eight. She went on to play the lead in Cameron Mackintosh’s MISS SAIGON, winning awards in both London and New York for her performance and since then has been an international performer. Monique Wilson, another “Rep tot”, also starred in the same production and is at present based in Manila and travels the world over where she continues to pursue her
career. The late Junix Inocian, Jonjon Briones, Red Concepcion, Cocoy Laurel, Maya Barredo, and Gia Macuja are just a few of others numbering about 40 who have appeared and are still appearing in international productions. REP continues to be the source of acting talent both in the Philippines and abroad.

To carry out its vision, REP maintains a full-time support staff of 10. Its present address is at Ecoville Executive Townhomes in Makati City. It began using a 200-seat theater on the 12th floor of the Insular Life Building on Ayala Avenue, moved to a 500-seat theater at the Shangri-la Plaza Mall which it named the William J. Shaw Theater, and then inaugurated and moved into the Carlos P. Romulo 400-seat theater at the RCBC Plaza. Its current home for the last twenty years has been at Onstage, Greenbelt 1. Unfortunately, Greenbelt 1 will be demolished by the Ayalas in 2024 to make way for a new tower of shops, offices and residences. REP is temporarily moving back to the RCBC Plaza for its 87 th Season 2024. At present it is still searching for a new home.

REP’s current President is MINDY BARREDO PEREZ-RUBIO.

Ms. Zeneida Amador, in an article she wrote profiling her company said: “Because REP is a non-stock, not-for profit foundation, it has never stinted in giving each production the best it has been able to. The money it makes from box-office sales and sponsorship grants have been ploughed back to benefit actors and support struggling performers, as well as into production budgets to give each presentation the taste, the look and the sophistication that cosmopolites have become used to. Its sense of pride about one of the country’s products renders it at all times unable to settle for mediocrity and to daily reach for excellence.” Additionally, by the regularity of its productions, REP is continuing its furtherance of the aims of art. That is to make people more sensitive, more aware, more ethical in their dealing with others, more compassionate and more giving.