‘#R</3J’: Dulaang UP explores the broken heart in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’

After 39 years of staging exceptional plays spanning from the classics to the contemporary and producing renowned directors, actors, designers, production and stage managers and technical directors, Dulaang UP celebrates its 40th theatre season with the theme “20/20 Vision: Clarity. Originality. Perspective.”

For its premiere offering, DUP presents “#R</3J,” a multimedia hallucination on William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

“#R</3J” retells the star-crossed lovers’ narrative transforming Verona into a concrete jungle at the heart of Metro Manila teeming with corruption, revolt, advertisements, sex, social media, and condominium units.

In this adaptation, the classic tragedy resonates within the present society’s many forms of commodified love. Can genuine love exist in a world of alterations and foolery? Exploiting our age of virtual reality – globalization, ultra-violence, internet novelties, generation gap – this theatrical piece seeks to dramatize the postmodern tragedy of our generation through a pastiche of movement, music, intertext, video and design. Destroy the city, the family, the government – even Shakespeare – but never destroy the will to love.

The production is a collaboration of seasoned and up-and-coming artists. Dexter M. Santos (direction) heads the artistic team composed of Guelan Varela-Luarca (adaptation), Krina Cayabyab (music design), John Batalla (lighting design), Ohm David (set design), Winter David (video design), and Darwin Desoacido (costume design).

It features the Dulaang UP Ensemble with Ricky Ibe, Mitoy Sta. Ana, Leo Rialp and the works of young choreographers, video designers, artists, and dramaturgs.

Please take note that “#R</3J” contains material and scenes that are not suitable for audiences under 16 years of age.

“#R</3J” runs from August 26 to September 13 at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, 2nd floor, Palma Hall, U.P. Diliman.

For tickets, reservation, sponsorships, and show buying inquiries, call Samanta Hannah Clarin or Camille Guevara at 926-1349, 433-7840, 981-8500 local 2449 or email dulaangupmarketing@gmail.com. Like our official Dulaang UP page at facebook.com/DulaangUnibersidadNgPilipinas.

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