Experience Multicultural Connections at the Sari-Sali Portal Café: A Filipino-Japanese Theater Collaboration

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This December, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) and Kyoto-based theater group BRDG bring a unique cultural experience to Manila with Sari-Sali portal café サリさり portal cafe, an interactive “cafe-in-a-theater” show. The production runs for a limited engagement from December 6 to 8, 2024, at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City.

Directed by Ian Segarra and Keiko Yamaguchi, this innovative performance draws inspiration from Japan’s Hokkori Café, a welcoming space where people of different backgrounds come together over good food and conversation. Sari-Sali portal café adapts this concept into a theatrical production that seamlessly blends music, dance, theater, and food to celebrate community and multiculturalism.

A Cast of Characters and Community

At the heart of the show are four characters whose diverse stories resonate with themes of connection and belonging:

  • Ayaka (Hitomi Nagasu), an introverted artist
  • Mayumi (Zoe Damag), a passionate Filipino music teacher
  • Kaloy (Julio Garcia), a former political activist
  • Yoshi (Hiroyuki Kozaka), a café part-timer

The audience becomes part of the experience, woven into the production as a collective “character” that embodies the rich tapestry of voices and experiences found in the Sari-Sali café.

A Collaborative Masterpiece

Sari-Sali portal café is a result of cross-cultural collaboration, developed during the Artist in Residence program at the Kinosaki International Arts Center in Japan in 2023. Its production design, by Ralph Lumbres, turns the PETA Theater Center into a communal hub, immersing the audience in the café’s inviting atmosphere.

This collaboration is supported by The Japan Foundation, Manila, and co-organized by PETA and BRDG, showcasing the transformative power of theater to bridge cultures and foster understanding.

Show Schedule

Catch this one-of-a-kind performance during its limited five-show run:

  • December 6, 2024 | 8:00 PM
  • December 7, 2024 | 3:00 PM & 8:00 PM
  • December 8, 2024 | 3:00 PM & 8:00 PM

Venue:
PETA Theater Center
No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City

Don’t Miss This Cultural Journey

Whether you’re a fan of theater, a lover of multicultural stories, or simply curious about unique creative experiences, Sari-Sali portal café promises an unforgettable journey into the power of community and shared humanity.

For more information, contact Leloi Arcete at 0917-576-5400 or email leloiarcete@petatheater.com.

Let this December be a time for stories, songs, and shared connections at the Sari-Sali portal café.

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