Gantimpala puts the spotlight on the Four Classics

MANILA, Philippines - In the recently concluded World Theater Month, Tony Espejo, artistic director of Gantimpala Theater, was awarded the Outstanding Artist for Golden Years of Service. Together with other theater stalwarts such as Tony Mabesa and Onofre Pagsanhan, he is just one of the many luminaries given recognition by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the International Theater Institute, at the Malacanang Palace, when it concluded the month-long world theatre celebration.

Also, productions under his direction earned honors as well — The God Stealer/the Queen’s Jewel (2006 Best Non-Musical Production); Lifetime Achievement Award (2007), and Ang Pagong at ang Matsing (2008 Best Musical Production) — all from the ALIW Awards.

Espejo explains, “For me, the soul of one’s culture or artists is through its literature. No matter what you do, if you go back to the libraries of earlier civilizations, what you immediately look for is their literature. The soul of the Filipino character is best captured through writing, and playwriting contributes greatly to this fact. I think I made people aware, especially the writers, that you must write about the Filipino, his life, aspirations, trials and experiences, so that we could be understood and appreciated. If no one writes about us, how can anybody learn about us?”

New Works

“The idea of the small, intimate production is very exciting and the discovering of new works by new writers acted by young artists, I think is another good contribution,” Espejo says.

Since leaving the CCP, the Four Classics (Florante at Laura, Noli Me Tangere, Ibong Adarna, El Filibusterismo) are the centerpiece productions of his company and he explains the objective behind its staging once more as Gantimpala celebrates its 32nd season.

“Personally, I feel that in the theater, first and foremost we must appreciate our own, we must watch the classics. In music, you have the likes of Mozart and Beethoven, they are masters. In dance, you have the likes of Nutcracker and Giselle. Gantimpala is the company that presents the classics. We hope that as we produce them, it inspires our audiences to go back and read the written work and appreciate it even more.”

In the nearest future, Espejo wants to spearhead a new Gantimpala Theater Playwriting Contest, the publication and staging of these plays, building a home for his beloved company, and the realization of his PAPA — the Philippine Academy of the Performing Arts.

Since the PAPA has not yet been established, Gantimpala Theater opens its doors to theater practitioners as it conducts a 10-day stage and production management workshop under Ed Murillo. It will be from May 25 to June 5, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Rehearsal Hall, Open Air Auditorium, in Luneta, Manila. (Workshop fee is P3,000.)

For information, call 528-0603 and 536-5860; e-mail gantimpalatheater@yahoo.com.ph, or visit gantimpalatheater.multiply.com