Some 30 students and faculty members from the Philippines, Singapore, and Romania have participated in a series of workshops focusing on performances in natural environments centered on ecological themes.
Organized by the UP Diliman (UPD) Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts (DSCTA), the workshops are part of the department’s Theatre 197 course, which aims to explore contemporary performance practices with a focus on ecology.
At the opening and orientation of the first workshops, Coordinator Jay-Ar M. Igno of the UPD Office of Student Projects and Activities described the event as an avenue for participants to share interests and experiences.
“You will have the opportunity to exchange in thought provoking discussions, hands-on experiences, and dynamic performances that explore how art can both reflect and impact our environment. Together, we will discover innovative ways to use performance as a platform for raising awareness, fostering change, and promoting environmental stewardship,” he said.
Igno also noted that the program has brought together passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds “united by a shared interest in exploring the powerful connection between performance arts and environmental sustainability.”
The workshops, held from May 5 to 10, are part of DSCTA’s partnership with LASALLE College of the Arts-University of the Arts Singapore and I.L. Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest, Romania. Maria Stella Rossa M. Lopez and Ma. Teresa S. Jamias, assistant professors at DSCTA, and Jonas Gabriel Garcia, instructor at DSCTA, are its project leaders.
The first workshop on May 5 at the Student Union Building was facilitated by Popo Amascual and Roger Federico, assistant professors at DSCTA. — With a report from Benito V. Sanvictores Jr., UP Diliman Information Office
