Dulaang UP turns Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ on its head
Dulaang UP will begin its 40th theatrical season this August with #R</3J (Hashtag: R heartbreak J), a fresh take on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Written in 1567, this play is no doubt one of the greatest works of literature in world history. We all know that countless movie, TV, music, and theater productions around the globe were inspired by Romeo and Juliet‘s against-all-odds love story of people from feuding families – from The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride to Taylor Swift’s single “Love Story” to Walang Hanggan, and many more.
But how will the story of Romeo and Juliet play out in the context of this generation? According to DUP, #R</3J will retell the said literary classic by contrasting and adapting it to the realities of our generation’s culture.
“Verona transforms into a concrete jungle at the heart of Metro Manila teeming with corruption, sex, drugs and dirty money. The play captures the essence of the famous love story, juxtaposing the young lovers’ romance with the many forms of commodified love present in our society today,” the group said in a statement.
“How can a love like theirs exist in our world, in our time?Exploiting our hyper-real contemporary moment, globalization, ultra-violence, internet inanities, intergenerational alienation – this artistic experiment seeks to dramatize, through a psychedelic mix of all available arts, the postmodern tragedy of our generation,” it added.
The play is written by Guelan Luarca and directed by Professor Dexter M. Santos from the UP College of Arts ad Letters. The artistic staff is composed of Krina Cayabyab for music composition and design, Darwin Desoacido for costume design, Ohm David (set design), John Batalla (lights design), Winter David, (video design), Marvin Olaes, and Nico Arguelles for dramaturgy.
#R</3J will run from August 26 to September 13, 2015 at the University of the Philippines’ Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater (2nd floor of Palma Hall). Interested parties may contact Samanta Hannah Clarin or Camille Guevarra at 926-1349, 433-7840, and 981-8500 local 2449 for tickets reservation, sponsorships, and show buying inquiries.
They can also be contacted through dulaangupmarketing@gmail.com and their official Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DulaangUnibersidadNgPilipinas.
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