‘Sari-Sali Portal Café’ (サリさり portal cafe), an interactive “café-in-a-theater” production, will have a limited five-show run from December 6 to 8, 2024, at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City. This unique project is a collaboration between the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) and Kyoto-based theater group BRDG.
Co-directed by Ian Segarra and Keiko Yamaguchi, ‘Sari-Sali Portal Café’ takes inspiration from Japan’s Hokkori Café, a cozy community space where people from diverse walks of life share meals and stories. The play introduces four characters: Ayaka, a shy artist (Hitomi Nagasu); Mayumi, a Filipino music teacher (Zoe Damag); Kaloy, a former political activist (Julio Garcia); and Yoshi, a part-time café worker (Hiroyuki Kozaka).
The production features immersive design by Ralph Lumbres, integrating the audience into the café setting as a “collective character.” This creative approach reflects the play’s themes of community, multiculturalism, and the power of human connection, where every viewer becomes part of the story.
Combining music, dance, theater, and food from various cultures, ‘Sari-Sali Portal Café’ celebrates the warmth and inclusivity of communal spaces.
Organized by The Japan Foundation, Manila, and co-produced by PETA and BRDG, the show is a culmination of cross-cultural collaboration and development. It was refined during the Artist in Residence program at the Kinosaki International Arts Center in Japan in November 2023.
Don’t miss this groundbreaking celebration of community and culture at the PETA Theater Center!
