30/08/2026
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UPSTAGE Members to Perform in 1st Bunraku Recital at UP Cebu
Members of University of the Philippines Students Theater Arts Guild for Education (UPSTAGE) are set to bring the traditional Japanese theater art of Bunraku to life as they perform in Bunraku sa Sugbo, a mini recital on August 31, Monday, at 2:00 p.m. at the Interactive Learning Center (ILC).
The recital is a collaboration between UPSTAGE and the UP Center for International Studies (UPCIS) Bunraku Ensemble, marking the first collaboration between the two groups and the first Bunraku performance to be held on the UP Cebu campus and in Cebu.
Bunraku is a traditional form of Japanese puppet theater that combines puppetry, narration, and traditional music. Its distinctive style involves three puppeteers working together to manipulate a single puppet, requiring precise coordination to create expressive movements and bring characters to life.
The UPSTAGE performers underwent a training workshop from August 29โ31 under Jina Umali, Founding Artistic Director of the UPCIS Noh and Bunraku Ensemble, UP Diliman; Kim Quinola of the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design, College of Home Economics, UP Diliman; and Andrea Rodelas and Tanya Marpuri, members of the UPCIS Bunraku Ensemble.
The three-day workshop is supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
Through the recital, the performers will showcase what they learned from the training while introducing the centuries-old Japanese art form to the UP Cebu community.
The mini recital will be held for free, with snacks available for attendees. Slots are limited, and interested members of the community are encouraged to secure their attendance early.
