Are you a William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet fan? Well check this out, a 21st century treatment of Shakespeare's immortal love story of clans at war, defying conventions, and believing in love in the hands of the Manila Shakespeare Company.
Set in our own present day Manila, the production explores the psychology of extreme circumstances breeding extreme behaviour. Romeo and Juliet are two isolated youths who join forces to break free of the madness and repression around them as their friends and family threaten to kill one another in the streets. But even these bloody motives become clearer as the play unfolds and we discover that Romeo and Juliet are not the only star-crossed players on this stage.
Firmly believing in both a reverence for the author and irreverently celebrating his work, the Manila Shakespeare Company aims to make Shakespeare immediate yet universal for its Filipino audience. In doing so, it has enlisted a myriad of talents to tell this oft-told story in a vital, refreshing way. Rising theatre star Nelsito Gomez takes on the challenging role of Romeo alongside newcomer Rachel Coates in the equally challenging role of Juliet, both of them bringing a very deliberate, star-defying resolve to characters often dismissed as weak-willed victims.
Surrounding the lovers is a diverse ensemble of veterans and theatre stalwarts. Veterans Meynard Penalosa and Issa Litton head the Capulet family as members of the social elite harbouring dark secrets. Crossover artist Jonas Gruet plays their hot-tempered, territorial nephew, Tybalt. Actress and writer Katski Flores portrays Shakespeare's greatest yaya in Juliet's nurse.
The side of the Montagues features Shakespeare enthusiast Micko Yabut as the irrepressible Mercutio, musical theatre actress Tricia Torres as a gender-switched Benvolia, and relative newcomer Mano Domingo as a fatherly Friar Laurence.
Rounding out the cast are theatre regular James Stacey as Paris and the Prince, and four capable supernumeraries in Steven Conde, Harold Cruz, Janine Tolentino, and Rico del Rosario.
All of these talents come together under the direction of Nicanor P. Campos and his assistant director, Christine Cojuangco.
See you at the theatre on February 27, March 5, or March 6 at Teatrino in Greenhills! Dinner will be served at 6:30pm followed by the performance promptly at 8:00pm.
For tickets and inquires please text/call 0939-5969250 or send an email at mnlshakesco@gmail.com.
Follow MSC on Facebook for updates:
Manila Shakespeare Company.
Nelsito Gomez & Rachel Coates
Set in our own present day Manila, the production explores the psychology of extreme circumstances breeding extreme behaviour. Romeo and Juliet are two isolated youths who join forces to break free of the madness and repression around them as their friends and family threaten to kill one another in the streets. But even these bloody motives become clearer as the play unfolds and we discover that Romeo and Juliet are not the only star-crossed players on this stage.
The famous balcony scene during the press preview. Nelsito Gomez (Romeo) & Rachel Coates (Juliet)
Firmly believing in both a reverence for the author and irreverently celebrating his work, the Manila Shakespeare Company aims to make Shakespeare immediate yet universal for its Filipino audience. In doing so, it has enlisted a myriad of talents to tell this oft-told story in a vital, refreshing way. Rising theatre star Nelsito Gomez takes on the challenging role of Romeo alongside newcomer Rachel Coates in the equally challenging role of Juliet, both of them bringing a very deliberate, star-defying resolve to characters often dismissed as weak-willed victims.
Surrounding the lovers is a diverse ensemble of veterans and theatre stalwarts. Veterans Meynard Penalosa and Issa Litton head the Capulet family as members of the social elite harbouring dark secrets. Crossover artist Jonas Gruet plays their hot-tempered, territorial nephew, Tybalt. Actress and writer Katski Flores portrays Shakespeare's greatest yaya in Juliet's nurse.
The side of the Montagues features Shakespeare enthusiast Micko Yabut as the irrepressible Mercutio, musical theatre actress Tricia Torres as a gender-switched Benvolia, and relative newcomer Mano Domingo as a fatherly Friar Laurence.
Rounding out the cast are theatre regular James Stacey as Paris and the Prince, and four capable supernumeraries in Steven Conde, Harold Cruz, Janine Tolentino, and Rico del Rosario.
All of these talents come together under the direction of Nicanor P. Campos and his assistant director, Christine Cojuangco.
Nicanor P. Campos, Director
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Nicanor Campos is primarily an actor. He began performing in high school at International School Manila and went on to play some of his best roles at Boston University, where his love of Shakespeare was also primarily nurtured. Nic made his debut in Shakespeare as Oberon and THeseus in A Midsummer Night's Dream with BU Stage Troupe. He went on to play lear in a remake of the tragedy entitled "Queen" Lear, where the protagonist was re-envisioned as a gender-confused man. In short order, this "controversial" performance was followed by Hamlet with the Calliope Players, Paris in Romeo and Juliet with the BU Shakespeare Society, Aaron the Moor in in Titus Andronicus (Calliope Players), Richard III (BUSS), and Silvius in As YOu Like It (BUSS). After graduating from BU, Nic appeared one last time on a Boston stage with the Independent Drama Society in an eight person punk rock Romeo and Juliet as Gregory, Mercutio, and Friar Lawrence.
Since moving back to Manila in late 2010, Nic not only began as a professional actor, but began teaching a critical thinking class and directing school plays for the Aguinaldo International School. His professional resume continues to feature notable performances of Shakespeare such as Claudio/Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing (UpStart Productions), Malvolio in Twelfth Night (METTA Assumption), and most recently Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew (Ephesus Teatron).
Shakespeare happens to find Nic even for small performance. Earlier last year, he played Benedick in a highly abridged version of Much Ado About Nothing offered by 9Works Theatrical for the British Festival and even had a one night stint as Shakespeare himself for an evening of Songs and Sonnets for Philippine Opera Company.
Nic's favorite non-Shakespearean roles include Horton the Elephant in Seussical, the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, The Cheshire Cat/Mock Turtle in Alice in Wonderland, Romainville in Ring 'Round the Moon, and Geppetto in Pinocchio.
He has taken acting and voice workshops with Ana Valdez-Lim, Anton Juan, Bill Atwood and Banaue Miclat-Janssen.
Romeo and Juliet will be Nic's professional directional debut.
See you at the theatre on February 27, March 5, or March 6 at Teatrino in Greenhills! Dinner will be served at 6:30pm followed by the performance promptly at 8:00pm.
For tickets and inquires please text/call 0939-5969250 or send an email at mnlshakesco@gmail.com.
Follow MSC on Facebook for updates:
Manila Shakespeare Company.