Rody Vera's Anak Datu Returns in 2023
The Filipino play explores the struggles of the Tausugs in Mindanao,
(SPOT.ph) The Philippine theater may have returned to the live stage in 2022, but run dates were short and seats were limited. Mula sa Buwan, for example, only had a 13-show run in August; then a two-weekend staging in December. Anak Datu, a play by Rody Vera and directed by Chris Millado, only had a three-weekend run in September. But in case you missed this Filipino play, Tanghalang Pilipino’s Associate Artistic Director Marco Viaña confirmed in a post that Anak Datu is having a rerun in 2023. Theaterfansmanila.com also announced that show dates are in September and October.
Also read: Spotlight: Anak Datu at Ang Rebelyon sa Mindanao
Anak Datu's premiere on September 16 was also the inaugural show of the newly opened Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (a.k.a. new Black Box Theater). It interweaves three narratives: a short story written by National Artist of the Philippines for Sculpture Abdulmari Asia Imao in 1968, the same year his son and artist Toym Leon Imao was born; the folk tale of Datu Karim, Putil Loling, and their son Karim; and the documented history of the Jabidah Massacre (1968) and Palimbang Massacre (1974) in the hands of uniformed men during the administration of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
During the 2022 run, Anak Datu's creative team were the following: Toym Leon Imao for set design, Josefino Chino Toledo for original music and composition; Carlo Villafuerte Pagunaling for costume design; Katsch Catoy for lighting design; GA Fallarme for projection design; TJ Ramos for arrangement, sound design and engineering; and Hassanain Magarang and the PWU Indayog Gong Ensemble for pangalay and martial arts choreography.
During the Aliw Awards, Anak Datu was nominated for Best Play, Best Stage Director for a Play (Chris Millado), Best Ensemble Performance (Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company), Best Choreographer (Hassanain Magarang), Best Musical Direction (Chino Toledo), Best Lead Actress (Tex Ordonez De Leon), Best Lead Actor (Carlos Dala and Hassanain Magarang), Best Featured Actress (Antonette Go and Lhorvie Nuevo), and Best Featured Actor (Nor Domingo and Marco Viana).
The 2023 venue is yet to be confirmed.