As art continues to tap into humans’ innate wonder, Lea Salonga is determined to make ample space in the field for universal truths that disturb and enlighten us. She’s letting the complexities of womanhood take the reins in Theatre Group Asia (TGA)’s upcoming production of Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba, and she’ll stop at nothing to make her comeback to Philippine theatre one for the books.
Property of Theatre Group Asia. Artistic Director: Clint Ramos. Executive Director: Christopher Mohnani. Art Direction & Concept by Ernest III. Photos by Jyllan Bitalac; Assisted by Sherie Bolo & Kyle Espiritu. Hair and Makeup: Kusie Ho. Styling: Team Ryuji Shiomitsu. Production Design: Justine Arcega-Bumanlag. Lighting Design: D Cortezano; Assisted by Rafa Sumilong. Movement Direction: JM Cabiling. Produced by Art Directed, Jaz Orbe.
History has borne witness to multitudes of Filipinos’ grief and longing, and Lea is gearing up to unravel them piece by piece as she headlines this introspective show. Adapted from Spanish dramatist Federico García Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba, director Chay Yew and playwright Guelan Luarca have given this spine-chilling play an unbridled Filipino flair, infusing it with beliefs, core values, and voices that probe into women’s hardships under colonial rule.
In TGA’s first-ever full-Filipino production, Lea takes on the titular role of a mother, forged by vengeance and overwhelming heartache, who runs her grief-stricken household with an iron fist as her five daughters—Angustias, Magdalena, Amelia, Martirio, and Adela—seek rebellion beyond their walls. With interwoven themes of motherhood, resistance, and social justice, Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba reminds us that home isn’t always where the heart is, much less a haven of refuge amid adversity.
Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba opens in February 2027 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater as part of TGA’s Season of Power roster. Here’s how Lea strives to uphold the play’s legacy and amplify its relentless fight for freedom:
The Resounding “Yes” That Started It All
Bringing one of theatre’s most polarizing characters to life is no walk in the park. But Lea approaches her extensive preparations with an open mind and heart, championing decades of grace and grit that’ve unveiled a thoughtful side to Bernarda. In her dedication to doing her character justice, Lea fondly looks back on when her wonderful peers introduced her to the project.
She recalls, “I was doing Les Misérables in Manila and Singapore when the question came up [from Tony Award-winning designer Clint Ramos]: ‘Would you be interested?’ And I thought, ‘Are you crazy?’ But then, they got me a copy of the play in Filipino and English so I could do a side-by-side [comparison] and understand what a lot of its elevated Filipino words meant in the story’s context. Even if I didn’t finish reading the whole thing back then, something was already nagging at me to say yes.”
Upon studying the script more, Lea gladly accepted the lead role. Her newfound anticipation, however, wasn’t free from internal doubts. She continued, “I was terrified, because I had never encountered language like this, as far as getting to do a theatrical production in it. So it was really intimidating in that aspect… but incredibly exciting nonetheless.”
Fueling the Play’s Filipino Spirit
Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba marks a variety of firsts for Lea and TGA, namely:
- TGA’s first fully Filipino production,
- Lea’s first play in Filipino, and
- Chay Yew’s directorial debut in Philippine theatre.
After raising our flag with her historic star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Lea is now set to help bring the Filipino spirit of Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba to fruition. The trailblazing Tony Award winner aims to tackle this crucial contribution to the country’s performing arts landscape through an earnest lens that every Filipino can get behind.
Chay Yew, Guelan Luarca, and the rest of the innovative minds behind the upcoming play have been working nonstop to make it stand out among other countries’ adaptations while staying faithful to the source material. As a result, they’ve crafted a compelling story that meticulously incorporates our language into every ebb and flow. Navigating the show’s script alone has already been a major challenge, especially for Lea, but the learning curves she experiences along the way make it all worth it.
“I wondered, ‘Am I gonna be able to pull this off?’ Because I didn’t initially identify with the piece this way,” she explains. “This isn’t casual Taglish. This is stuff that would remind us all of tongue twisters. But it has to roll off as everyday language [for the cast], which makes us excited and scared altogether.”
Philippine history and its pressing truths will thrive even further through Bernarda herself, a force of nature that Lea attributes to her own library of multifaceted characters onstage and on the big screen.
A Complex Female Lead Who’s Human at Heart
Anyone who has heard of Bernarda Alba would deem her an inconsolable tyrant who’d stop at nothing to obstruct her daughters’ freedom. But amid Bernarda’s insurmountable grief and oppression, Lea has been committed to unearthing the harrowing circumstances that make her character human.
She shares, “I think it’s worth exploring why [Bernarda] is the way she is,” leaning into the cathartic aspect of pursuing roles built on deep-seated rage.
From the mischievous Witch of Into the Woods to Manang, the ferocious manananggal of Forgotten Island, Lea knows a thing or two about bearing her soul through vindictive, inherently flawed characters that add depth to the stories she portrays. When asked why she’s drawn to these specific roles, she states, “Because it’s fun!”
Paying Homage to the Past Through Present-day Perspectives
Lea firmly believes that Bernarda (or any emotionally intense character, rather) grounds her cruel motives in large-scale conflict that goes beyond their personal grievances. That’s why she makes it her duty to hold a mirror to these harmful norms as the play progresses.
Many Filipinos, for instance, grew up in overbearing households where every decision they made could garner harsh judgment under the guise of fierce protection and character-building. As Bernarda’s daughters suffer the same fate, possibly ten times worse under Spanish colonization, Lea emphasizes the importance of overcoming and resisting the dated beliefs that once held us back.
“I want this play to remind us that it’s high time we break the cycles of trauma and toxicity that take a toll on humanity,” Lea explains. “We can’t go back [to olden times], and we have no plans to anymore.”
Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba uses intimate spaces to highlight the Philippines’ colonial influences and ideologies that challenge present-day notions. As we await our own iteration of the critically acclaimed play, let Lea and her incredible castmates inspire us to give art an unshakeale voice in our tireless pursuits of hope, justice, and liberation.
Tickets for TGA’s Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba are available for pre-sale starting today, October 19, 2026.
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Are you excited to watch Lea onstage in Theatre Group Asia’s “Ang Tahanan ni Bernarda Alba?” Let us know in the comments below!
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