Star Worx’s Queenay Mercado produces short play festival

MANILA, Philippines —   Social media personality and TV5’s Star Worx artist Queenay Mercado dabbles in theater as a co-producer of the short play festival titled “Stage Bites: PIGLAS.” She is teaming up with her sibling RK, the festival director and founder of the theater group Dularkada Playhouse.

The festival features six original plays, namely Plantsado, Sa Ilalim ng Buwan Tuwing Hatinggabi, Susi, May Naiiwan, After Sunday and Bago Ang “I Do.” It will take place on Sept. 26 and 27 and Oct. 3 and 4, 3 p.m. at the Amalfi718 Hotel.

The theater venture of Queenay shows her innate interest in the arts and the latter’s power as a platform to tap one’s creative potential.

“Gusto din namin na ma-showcase talaga kung gaano sila ka-passionate, lalo na ‘pag dating sa theater (we also really want to show how passionate theater creatives, such as actors, playwrights and directors, are in this artistic field),” said the “Vibe+” jock and “A Secret in Prague” actress in an interview with The STAR.

“Of course, there are people who sometimes stop pursuing their interest in theater work, like acting, because of their (full-time) work. So, ngayon parang gusto naming ibalik na parang why not ipagpatuloy nyo yung pangarap ninyo, diba? (We want them to revisit their love for and dream of doing theater). This, (the short play festival), is their chance and opportunity to do so.”

Queenay’s brother RK shared that they called for submissions of short plays from playwrights in Batangas, and they received 31. From this number, they chose six to be presented in “Stage Bites: PIGLAS.” Each play runs for 15 minutes. The short play festival showcases emerging talents, playwrights, directors and creative returnees. The theme that the six plays share is “piglas,” or breaking free.

“(It has) stories of breaking away, stories of breaking cycles and stories of breaking silence and becoming,” said RK, a theater teacher at the De La Salle Lipa and former associate artistic director and now resident director of the Lipa Actors Company. “All plays are anchored in it, regardless of genres. May kwento dito na tungkol sa kasalang Batangas, ano ang itsura nun, tungkol sa mental health meron din, pulitika meron din (there’s a story about the Batangas wedding and how it looks, mental health and politics).”

Queenay, on the other hand, said that it’s her dream to produce something creative like the “Stage Bites: PIGLAS” festival. Before becoming a content creator, she had a passion for acting and an interest in theater.

In the past, the curious Queenay asked her brother, part of the Lipa Actors Company, to help her get into the local theater group and see the work behind it. That’s where her love for theater developed.

“Sabi ko, ‘Ay, nakakatuwa pala, nakaka-enjoy (I told myself, ‘It’s fun and enjoyable’),” shared she, “kasi bukod sa ang dami kong natututunan, ang dami kong nagiging kaibigan at ang dami ko ding na-e-experience na bago sa akin (aside from the lessons learned, I made a lot of friends and experienced new things).”

As for how the short play festival came into being, it all started when Queenay went to their Batangas house for a break from work and met RK there having a meal. Given their respective busy daily grind, the siblings did catch up and had a casual talk about theater. She reignited her interest in theater with the aim to help the local theater community.

They also shared that the local theater landscape in Batangas is thriving. There are three active theater groups that offer unique content, programs and presentations, such as musicals and short plays, done in found spaces like tents at hotels and coffee shops.

Asked if Queenay is open to the idea of being directed by RK in a short or full-length play, she said, “Yes, papayag talaga ako. Kaya gumawa ka na (I will definitely agree to it. That’s why you [talking to her brother] write the script).”

“I-ni-imagine ko siya bilang isang kontrabida sa isang dula… siya ang bida din. Lagi ko kasing nakikita sa pino-portray niyang character, lagi na lang inaapi, kaawa-awa, mahinhin (I imagine her playing a villain character, who is also the lead. I would watch her portray underdog and prim-and-proper characters),” added he.

If that happens in the future, it’s going to be another exciting endeavor for Queenay, who will bank on her experience as a TV and movie actress.

(Tickets for ‘Stage Bites: PIGLAS’ are priced at P600, covering the six short plays. For details, visit Dularkada Playhouse official social media pages.)