Diwata Works back with 2 plays

Diwata Works back with 2 plays

TORONTO–Diwata Works (DW), the cultural production company that gave you Allos and Fort Santiago, is back with two one-act plays–and they are a blast!

The non-profit theatre company is holding auditions in early-August and mid-August for actors to play these characters: one man and one woman in their late 40s/50s; and, one man and one woman in their 20s/30s.

Casting is colour-blind with Filipinos preferred but not required.

Voltaire de Leon (writer of Allos and writer/director of Fort Santiago) is betting that two young, emergent Filipino Canadian playwrights will take our community to a new level of Filipino-spawned theatre productions. As in previous productions, the new Diwata Works offering falls under the category of critical theatre.

A significant part of Diwata Works mandate is to support Filipino Canadian talents and promote their active participation in the cultural industry. That’s why DW is showcasing the one-act plays of two writers.

“Chris and Jerthie have both very strong writing , “ said de Leon. “ … very on-edge, sharp, uncompromising. They represent the youngest crop of cultural workers from the Filipino community joining the likes of Nina Aquino, Aurora Carcueva, Jon-E de Leon, Marie Beth Badian, Dennis Balatbat, the Alcasid brothers and Carlos Bulosan Theatre’s Nadine Villasin.”

Chris Gatchalian, a prolific young playwright from Vancouver, has made heads turn with great reviews for his play Crossing. Diwata is staging his earlier Hands about the unraveling of a couple’s marriage.
Jerthie Barinque enlarges on her poetry-driven monologue in Going Mental. The Mississauga native wrote and directed Big Sky Mind performed at the Erindale Theatre. Anyone who has read her powerful monologue on Banana Café won’t be surprised at how easily she can turn it to stage drama.
Hands and Going Mental will have a staged reading on September 24, 25 and 26 this Fall. Full production is scheduled for the Spring of 2005.

Interested in auditioning for the plays?

Email your bio to Voltaire de Leon at diwataworks@yahoo.ca . All emails will be responded to with details on time and place as well as sides. Volunteers welcome.

(PRESS RELEASE)