PUP theater group produces 25 shows for silver anniversary

Twenty-five years, 25 shows. Teatro Komunikado (TK), the official theater group of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) College of Communication, is marking its silver anniversary with an anthology of works written for the stage.

“Isang-Kapat na Siglo: Mga Akdang Pang-Entablado” launches on November 21 at 3 PM at The Stacks, One Ayala in Makati City. The book features 25 play scripts and other stage works by TK members and alumni from different generations. The launch will include dramatic readings of selected pieces from the collection.

TK alumni Gelo Alix and Melody Parentela compiled and edited the anthology, with Alix also leading the project. It is published under Prior Knowledge Publishing and the Lakan Dayang Cultural Association. The project aims to preserve 25 years of TK’s stage writing in one volume and introduce its works to readers beyond the PUP campus.

This is TK’s second anthology. In 2011, the group released “Sampu sa Ika-Sampu” for its 10th anniversary, also featuring shows written by TK students and alumni.

The book launch kicks off a three-part celebration organized by TK and the Teatro Komunikado Alumni Association (TKAA). The next event is a variety concert on December 13 at the World Bazaar Festival at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Current members and alumni will share the stage, revisiting musical and theatrical numbers from the group’s past productions.

The anniversary celebration will culminate in October 2027 with a major theater production at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila. The show will bring stories from the anthology to life on stage.

Founded in 2001, TK has provided PUP communication students with opportunities to explore acting, playwriting, directing, and production. Many former members have continued working in the arts while maintaining their connection to the group through TKAA.

The anthology gives these generations a shared collection of works to revisit, while the planned Metropolitan Theater production offers an opportunity to introduce some of those stories to a new audience.