Puregold Teatro Panalo cuts 373 entries to 26 shortlisted plays

The next selection will determine the festival’s final lineup of eight straight plays and four musicals, which will be staged from February 20 to March 14, 2027.

Festival chair and Puregold senior marketing manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad said the volume of submissions made the selection process challenging.

“We received a remarkable level of interest in the first Puregold Teatro Panalo,” Hayagan-Piedad said. “The volume and quality of submissions reflect the depth of Filipino talent and the continued vitality of the country’s theatrical community.”

Festival director Vincent de Jesus said the next round will be even more competitive as the 26 shortlisted works are reduced to 12.

“It was difficult enough narrowing things down to 26 deserving one-act plays,” De Jesus said. “From this bunch, only the very best of the best will make it to the stage in February.”

The 12 selected playwrights will receive ₱100,000 in financial compensation, along with development and production support from festival organizers Wishbone Collective Inc.

At the end of the festival, one straight play and one musical will also receive development grants to turn their one-act works into full-length theatrical productions.

For now, the focus is on the next cut: 26 shortlisted plays will become 12 finalists for the first Puregold Teatro Panalo.

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