Photo / Kisapmata and Tanghalang Pilipino
Kisapmata is set to become a stage play.
The adaptation will be staged from March 7 to 30, 2025, at the Tanghalang Ignacio Jimenez at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Pasay City.
Tanghalang Pilipino (TP) will bring Mike de Leon’s classic film to the stage with an adaptation and direction by Guelan Luarca, featuring the TP Actors Company.
Ticket prices are:
- VIP: P2,000
- Regular: P1,500
Photo / Tanghalang Pilipino
Jonathan Tadioan will play Dadong, while Lhorvie Nuevo-Tadioan will take on the role of Dely. Toni Go-Yadao and Marco Viaña join them as Mila and Noel.
The understudies include Arjay Babon for Dadong, Sofia Sacaguing for Dely, Sarah Monay for Mila, and Mark Lorenz for Noel.
Rafael Jimenez and Kat Batara will provide assistant direction, while JM Cabling is in charge of movement direction. Joey Mendoza will provide set design, Bonsai Cielo for costume design, and Arvy Dimaculangan for music and sound design. D Cortezano will provide lighting design and technical direction, and Missy Maramara will give intimacy direction.
According to TP, the play is rated R-16. This means that “only viewers who are 16 years old and above can be admitted. An ‘R-16’ classification advises viewers, parents, and supervising adults that the film may contain any of the elements that may not be suitable for children below 16 years of age, such as sex, horror, crime, cruelty, violence, offensive language, and self-harm.”
From novel to film to stage
Photo / Kisapmata
Kisapmata is a film adaptation of the short story “The House on Zapote Street,” which is part of Reportage on Crime, an anthology of true crime stories written by National Artist Nick Joaquin, writing under the pen name Quijano de Manila.
It is a psychological horror film considered one of the best works in Philippine cinematic history.
The film stars Vic Silayan, Charo Santos, Jay Ilagan, and Charito Solis.
Kisapmata premiered in 1981 at the 7th Metro Manila Film Festival, where it won 10 awards: Best Film, Best Director, Best Story, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Silayan), Best Supporting Actor (Ilagan), Best Supporting Actress (Solis), Best Editing, Best Production Design, and Best Sound Engineering.
The film was screened at the 35th Cannes Film Festival at the Directors’ Fortnight alongside another de Leon film, Batch ’81.
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