LOOK: Repertory Philippines' Brand New Theater in Eastwood

(SPOT.ph) Theater companies are no strangers to moving around the different stages in the Metro for their shows. It's part of their DNA to stage and pack up their productions like it's nothing. But any production staff member would tell you it'd be a million times easier if they had just one place to call their stage—one they could use to their hearts' content.

For Repertory Philippines—a 57-year-old theater company in the Philippines known for staging original Filipino and English-language productions—its home theater used to be Onstage Theater at Greenbelt 1. But early this year, news of Greenbelt's renovation broke out. While many were saddened to learn that many of their favorite restaurants and shops were closing down, it was a different blow for Repertory Philippines, which now found itself with no home theater for its 2024 show lineup. 

But as the old adage goes, the show must go on. The closure of the Onstage Theater did not blindside Repertory Philippines (REP). Representatives from the company confirmed with SPOT.ph that they knew they needed to find a new home as soon as they closed their run of Snow White and the Prince. Thus, giving them time to prepare contigencies.

And that they did. For many of their shows this year, they utilized the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at RCBC Plaza Makati City as their stage and other studios for their workshops and rehearsals. But starting this October REP finally has a new home in Quezon City's Eastwood City Walk, where all their shows will be staged moving forward.

Check out Repertory Philippines' new home in Eastwood:

It's hard to miss Repertory Eastwood Theater. As soon as you enter Eastwood's Citywalk, you'll be greeted with an arch welcoming you to Rep's Eastwood home. If that's not enough to tell you're in the right place, there are also a lot of other decals and signage pointing you in the right direction.

Once you reach the fourth floor and move past the food park, you'll see another arch signaling the beginning of your Repertory Eastwood Theater experience.

Walk through and spot familiar faces on the Wall of Fame featuring stars of Philippine cinema.

If you're a theater fan, look to your right, and you'll see the pillars of Repertory Philippines— such as Zenaida Amador and Carmen Barredo, the people who made REP what it is today.

Your history lesson doesn't end once you enter the theater. Vintage posters of previous shows staged by the company guide you along the corridor to your seat.

Entering the main theater is a surreal feeling. The space opens up to showcase the full extent of the theater's size—all 1,400 square meters of it. Repertory Eastwood Theater is a 502-seater refurbished cinema on the fourth floor of Eastwood's City Walk.

"Madami yung nagugulat talaga. Noong gala night, madami yung halos naluluha. Parang wow, this is for REP," says REP's Production Manager, Patricia Gregorio.

REP's Marketing Associate, Alyssa Layog proudly tells SPOT.ph, "There are no bad views in the entire theater." And true enough, when we visited, we saw it for ourselves. Whether seated up front, in the middle, on the sides, or at the highest point, you have unobstructed views of the stage.

Jepoy and the Magic Circle shows the full potential of the new theater

There's no better play to showcase what the theater can do than Jepoy and the Magic Circle,  an original production based on the short story, The Magic Circle by Gilda Cordero-Fernando. The play features colorful imagery and an elaborate set inspired by Philippine folklore, a true visual spectacle, and a perfect litmus test if the Rep's Eastwood stage meets their audience's exacting standards. 

Rep was so sure that Jepoy and the Magic Circle would be such a perfect fit to showcase the best of their new stage that even before construction began, they were already committed to hold the play in the new space. But realistically, REP had to come up with contingencies in case the worst happened and the deadlines weren't met, but at the end of the day, they didn't need them.

"It was a clutch moment. We had only about two weeks to bring the set and production here. But finally, ayan na," says Gregorio with a sigh of relief.

"Our 2025 season will be staged here, including the workshop showcases," Layog affirms.

How the Repertory Eastwood Theater came about

This arts and culture space was made possible through a strategic partnership between Megaworld Lifestyle Malls and REP.

"We are very thrilled to welcome Repertory Philippines to its new home here in Eastwood City and we are honored to be part of its noble journey of elevating Philippine theater and its continuing commitment to shine the spotlight on the world-class talents of Filipino actors and playwrights," says First Vice President and Head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, Graham Coates.

But aside from the mutually beneficial business aspect of the partnership, representatives from Repertory Philippines also allude to a personal reason why Coates felt passionate about the collaboration.

"It might be because his daughters are theater people, and in REP. Alam ko matagal na siya pinupush nung daughters niya to get involved, so when the opportunity presented itself, natuloy din." says, Gregorio.

Repertory Eastwood Theater is at 4/F Eastwood City Walk, Eastwood, Quezon City. For more information, visit Repertory Philippines' Facebook page.

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