Theater as an art form has survived pandemics and with the stage affected by the coronavirus, theater companies go digital to adapt. Streamed versions of pre-recorded theatrical productions have enjoyed great popularity for the past few months. Musical hits like “Ang Huling El Bimbo”, the current explosion of digital theater is merely a way of holding space before we can return to “real” theater.

PETA launches its first-ever ticketed streaming KE-Pop: Kalinangan Ensemble Performers Overcoming a Pandemic on November 23 to December 10. Short and full-length plays ranging from classics to contemporary productions will be streamed. “This is a tribute to the artists — their capacity to be creative and resilient.” PETA Artistic Director Maribel Legarda noted. This ticketed event hopes to sustain PETA artists and its subsidiaries.

“That’s a gaping hole, an energy from the live theater that will never be filled by watching from a screen, but Peta is accepting this challenge,” Legarda said. As a live art form, the theater industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, and through Ke-Pop, PETA has dedicated these efforts to all artists who are migrating their works to the digital format.

Here are other shows streaming during K.E.-POP:

Care Divas

The hit comedy musical will be screened online as part of PETA’s digital festival. It’s a funny and candid musical drama centering on five transgender OFWs in Israel who work as caregivers by day and glamorous drag queen performers at night. As they try to make a living, these women also struggle to find acceptance in a foreign land.

1896

This Palanca Award-winning musical is known for being PETA’s first and only sung-through production. Written by the late Charley Dela Paz, 1896 tells a story about the Philippine revolution, centering on Emilio Jacinto, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, and Dr. Jose Rizal.

Si Tamad, Ang Diyablo, at Ang Limang Milyong Boto

This vaudeville musical play centers on Juan Tamad (JT), a young and apathetic first-time voter. When his candidate loses, he becomes apathetic and cynical, until a series of events change him into someone proactive. This is directed by Phil Noble.

If anything, this increases theater’s accessibility. With theatres thinking about a return to physical spaces, it is worth considering how the “digital turn” will impact future live shows. Renegotiated and re-imagined ideas of access, community and interactivity, borne out of necessity, are an opportunity to rethink theatre. These should not be ignored when the return to public spaces happens: rather, they should inform theater’s future.

For more information, you can check out KTX’s website and PETA’s official Facebook page.