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10 best theater productions of 2025 | Daily Tribune

10 best theater productions of 2025

Theater is thriving in Manila, and it has been an exciting year to be in the audience. Out of the 29 productions staged in the city that I watched this year — from musicals to mainstream stagings and indie plays — these stood out the most. Here are the best theater productions of the year, with number one as the best.

Stephanie Mayo·30 December 2025, 1:03 pm·1 min read

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10 best theater productions of 2025 — Filipino-British actor Martin Sarreal (Serge), theater veteran Brian Sy (Yvan), and British actor Freddie Sawyer (Marc) / Photo: Repertory Philippines
Repertory Philippines

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10. 'Para kay B' (Fire and Ice Entertainment)

The power of Ricky Lee’s original story and Eljay Deldoc’s stage adaptation lies in how these unconventional love stories are not merely strange or tragic, but deeply psychological explorations of love. Tackling limerence, loneliness, and the inner struggle of a writer, the play is funny, smart, and often devastating.

9. '3 Upuan' (Scene Change)

At first glance, Guelan Varela-Luarca’s 3 Upuan risks seeming elitist, even pretentious. Beneath its affectations, however, the play captures something raw, violent, and painfully recognizable—grief in its most unvarnished form. I saw the restaging of the 2024 play and wept as Jojit Lorenzo delivered the most exquisite performance of the cast. His portrayal of grief is unembellished and devastating in its restraint. It is hard to imagine not crying while watching this.

8. 'Anniversary' (CCP’s Virgin Labfest)

Directed by Sarah Facuri, this deeply human examination of grief and loss hits hard. Whether or not one shares the same tragic experiences as the characters, anyone who has suffered unbearable loss can relate. Nelsito Gomez’s masterful handling of differing belief systems that shape how we cope with tragedy is especially moving. The contrast between faith in a benevolent God and the view that events are random adds depth. This gentle exploration of theism and atheism, without becoming preachy, enriches the text and highlights the complexity of the human condition.

7. 'Joseph the Dreamer' (Trumpets)

From the opening scene to the curtain call, Joseph the Dreamer is thoroughly enjoyable. Witty dialogue, joyful and energetic Gary V–signature choreography, strong songs, and lively performances make it a crowd-pleaser for all audiences. What makes the musical truly work is its refusal to preach. It takes a well-known Old Testament story and tells it with humor, energy, and clarity. The script is funny without becoming flippant, and serious when needed, without being heavy-handed.

6. 'Shrek the Musical' (Full House Theater Company)

Balancing slapstick and wit, the entire show exudes confidence and ease. What makes this production truly unforgettable is the exceptional talent on stage, from the leads to the ensemble. Theater is not just about excellent singing; otherwise, it becomes a concert. Acting is its soul. Effective acting lives in the voice—the pitch, the quiver, the emotional subtext within every lyric—that reveals the characters’ inner journeys: loneliness, anxiety, arrogance, pain, and love. Shrek the Musical has all of that.

5. 'Sopranong Kalbo' (Teatro Meron)

Performed in Filipino through National Artist Rolando Tinio’s translation of French-Romanian playwright Eugène Ionesco’s La Cantatrice Chauve (The Bald Soprano), this play is rooted in Filipino middle-class speech patterns and evokes the shallow rituals of communication. Director Ron Capinding’s stripped-down direction never strays from the play’s focus, while his effective cast elevates the material. Both hilarious and unsettling, this absurdist, thought-provoking, intellectual comedy is unforgettable.

4. 'Into the Woods' (Theatre Group Asia)

This year’s famously sold-out-in-an-instant production delivers the joy of live performance through strong acting, music, and Filipino touches. One of the strongest local productions of the year, its mix of universal themes, Filipino design, and a Western score gives it broad appeal. Whether set in a bahay na bato or a forest, Stephen Sondheim’s score, performed by a skilled Filipino cast, remains its anchor.

3. 'Anino sa Likod ng Buwan' (IdeaFirst Company)

A decade after its film adaptation, Jun Robles Lana’s Anino sa Likod ng Buwan remains urgent and razor-sharp. Even for those familiar with the story, it is still a deeply satisfying experience. Tuxqs Rutaquio’s direction pays homage to the brilliance of the script while maintaining edge-of-seat tension. He deftly depicts both external and internal wars, underscoring subconscious struggles and the gray areas of morality and ideology. He brings Lana’s story to life, filling the stage with naked flesh, leaked secrets, and desperation.

2. 'Dear Evan Hansen' (GMG Productions)

It is rare these days for theater to truly make you feel. In any art form, emotion is essential—it must reach the audience. Dear Evan Hansen does exactly that. It is packed with feeling, without spectacle or explosive showpieces. Instead, it offers a contemplative and intimate reflection on loneliness. Sensitive and laced with comedy, the play communicates the painful and frightening truths of depression and anxiety.

1. 'ART' (Repertory Philippines)

The genius of ART lies in Yasmina Reza’s ability to excavate emotional truths from cerebral comedy. Christopher Hampton’s 1996 translation is a minefield of laugh-out-loud passive-aggressive remarks, semantic one-upmanship, and emotional deflection. Victor Lirio’s lean, precise direction captures the text’s verbal choreography perfectly. The minimalist set, controlled lighting, and music heighten the characters’ interiority, while the absence of an intermission sustains narrative momentum and dramatic pressure. This is the only theater production I watched twice this year.

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