11th Year of Kuris International Theatre Festival & Workshops Opens in Bacolod

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BACOLOD CITY – Seasoned Local and International Performing Arts Champions Gather for the 11th Kuris International Theatre Festival and Workshops 2024

Seasoned champions of the performing arts from local and international arenas have come together as the 11th Kuris International Theatre Festival and Workshops 2024 launches at the University of St. La Salle Bacolod and the Negros Museum. From February 21 to 24, 2024, the festival promises an unmatched display of creativity and cultural exchange.

Coinciding with National Arts Month, the festival embraces “Theatre Without Borders” as its theme, celebrating the artistic excellence and the rich diversity of Filipino heritage and culture.

This four-day event is a dynamic collaboration between prominent organizations, including THE PERFORMANCE LABORATORY, INC., WOMEN PLAYWRIGHTS’ INTERNATIONAL – PHILIPPINES, INTERNATIONAL THEATRE INSTITUTE – INTERNATIONAL PLAYWRIGHT’S FORUM, TEATROKON: WEST VISAYAS THEATER NETWORK, and the UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE.

Founder & Festival Director Tanya Lopez said, “This year’s edition of Kuris isn’t merely a showcase of performances; it is a vibrant platform for transcending borders through the exchange of ideas, uniting diverse voices in a timely celebration of arts and cultural distinctions.”

Attendees of the festival can anticipate an array of engaging activities such as performances, screenings, staged readings, exhibits, and a series of lectures and workshops led by esteemed and award-winning practitioners, including playwrights, directors, actors, visual artists, and designers.

Distinguished resource persons include Dr. Anton Juan (Notre Dame University), Alvin Erasga Tolentino (Canada), Yasuhiro Okada (Japan), Emmanuel Paul Leonce Mailly (France), Victoria Waine-Kate Ip (Canada), Marc Gerenton (France), Glenn Sevilla Mas (Cultural Center of the Philippines), Denise Aguilar (InterCultural Theatre Institute, Singapore), Dr. Elsie Martinez-Coscolluela (Bacolod), and local champions August Melody Andong (Women’s Playwright International, Inc., Iloilo), Rene Hinojales, Jonathan Davila, Roger Joshua Venzal, Jaime Chua, and Joseph Liprado (all from Bacolod).

The festival is also set to host the 13th edition of the International Playwright’s Forum with heARTh Café and the 12th edition of Women Playwrights International – Philippines.

A notable highlight of the festival is ‘ACCUMULATION,’ an environmental performance by Co.ERASGA Dance, led by Filipino Canadian artist Mr. Alvin Tolentino, scheduled for February 23, 2024, with shows at 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM at the USLS Gallaga Theater.

The Kuris International Theatre Festival and Workshops is an annual convergence of school and community-based theatre groups, theatre practitioners, scholars, and artists from around the world. It aims to promote creativity, diversity, and excellence in artistic expression while encouraging networking, collaboration, and artistic exchange.

For any festival inquiries, please contact Kuris Festival Project Manager Noel Pahayupan at 0946-289-4896 or via email at theperformancelaboratory.inc@gmail.com.