Repertory Philippines

Repertory Philippines was established in March 1967 by five actors: Zenaida Amador, Carmen Barredo, Leo Martinez, Tony Mercado, and Monina Mercado.^[2] Its first production was a Tagalog-language adaptation of Miss Julie by August Strindberg, directed by Rolando Tinio.^[3] In its early years, REP experienced difficulty in attracting audiences for its plays; the owners assessed that the paying audience preferred plays in English and those authored by American and European playwrights.^[3] REP's debut play Miss Julie had poor viewership which led the theater company to focus on English-language plays.^[1] With the patronage of Jaime Zobel de Ayala, the viewership of REP's plays gradually increased. Most of the theater group's productions were derived from classic English-language plays and Broadway musicals.^[4]

In 1988, REP-trained actors including Lea Salonga and Monique Wilson were selected to join the original West End company of Cameron Mackintosh's Miss Saigon.^[3]

Since 2024, Repertory Philippines' home venue is the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC Plaza, Makati,^[5] while a new venue at Eastwood Citywalk in Eastwood City, Quezon City is slated to open in October.^[6] Prior to that period, REP did productions at the Insular Life Auditorium in Makati (1967–1992), the William Shaw Theater at Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong (1992–2002), and the OnStage Theater at Greenbelt 1, Makati (2002–2024). The theater group also did plays at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Meralco Theater, and the now-defunct Rizal Theater in Makati.^[1]

Repertory Philippines is known for producing plays in English – a subject of criticism by Filipino nationalists, although the theater company has a policy of not hiring foreign actors for the lead roles in their plays.^[3][4]

• Philippine Educational Theater Association