YEMAYA Manila 2026: 9 Works Theatrical stages Filipino translation at Rockwell Makati
9 Works Theatrical stages YEMAYA from June 13 to July 5, 2026 at The Black Box at The Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati, presenting a Filipino translation of Quiara Alegría Hudes’ Yemaya’s Belly.
Update: 9 Works Theatrical has announced the cast of YEMAYA, led by Bituin Escalante as Yemaya/Inay, Benedix Ramos and Tommy Alejandrino alternating as Jesus/Mulo, and Sheena Belarmino and Ness Roque alternating as Maya. Read Unsaulicited’s full YEMAYA 2026 cast announcement for the complete lineup and production update.
YEMAYA brings Hudes’ work into Filipino through a translation by Eljay Castro Deldoc, staging a fantasy-driven coming-of-age story about perseverance, hope, belonging, and the pull of the tides. For readers tracking stage plays in Manila, it stands out as one of the most intriguing non-musical theater entries in the 2026 calendar.
The production leans into a quieter, more deliberate register, moving away from spectacle toward something more elemental. Its tone is shaped by memory, language, and water, grounding its mythic sensibility in a more intimate, human scale.
Quiara Alegría Hudes, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright behind Water by the Spoonful and the book writer of In the Heights, is known for writing that carries emotional rhythm even in its stillness. In YEMAYA, that rhythm becomes central. The play follows a young boy on an epic journey across land and sea, evolving from a simple question into a fantasy-laced story about the search for one’s place in the world.
Why YEMAYA matters for Manila theater
This staging of YEMAYA stands out for its Filipino translation by Eljay Castro Deldoc. In theater, translation is not only about language but about resonance. Deldoc’s version bridges Hudes’ Latin American roots with the Philippines’ own archipelagic identity, allowing the story to land closer to Filipino experience and cultural memory.
The production also marks the directorial return of Ed Lacson Jr., a respected figure in Philippine theater design and direction. His approach to visual storytelling and atmosphere aligns with the play’s emotional and imaginative scale, suggesting a staging that prioritizes texture, movement, and mood.
For 9 Works Theatrical, YEMAYA signals a shift. Known for large-scale productions, the company turns here toward a more stripped-down form, emphasizing the raw power of performance, language, and space. It positions YEMAYA not just as a new play in Manila, but as a statement of artistic direction within the local theater landscape.
What YEMAYA is about
YEMAYA follows a young boy’s journey across land and sea in search of where he truly belongs. What begins as a wondering of “what if” becomes an adventure of “what could be,” shaped by hope, perseverance, and the restless pull of the tides.
That premise gives the play its mythic charge. The story is not simply about travel, but about longing. It asks what home means when a person is always looking beyond it, and what belonging means when the world keeps expanding beyond what one first imagined.
YEMAYA Manila 2026 production details
- Production: YEMAYA
- Original work: Yemaya’s Belly by Quiara Alegría Hudes
- Filipino translation: Eljay Castro Deldoc
- Director and set designer: Ed Lacson Jr.
- Company: 9 Works Theatrical
- Venue: The Black Box at The Proscenium Theater, Rockwell, Makati
- Run: June 13 to July 5, 2026
- Showtimes: Fridays at 8:00 PM; Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM
- Tickets: ₱2,900 VIP, ₱2,600 Premium, and ₱2,200 Regular via Ticket2Me
YEMAYA cast
The announced cast is led by Bituin Escalante as Yemaya/Inay, with Benedix Ramos and Tommy Alejandrino alternating as Jesus/Mulo, and Sheena Belarmino and Ness Roque alternating as Maya.
Completing the cast are Herbie Go as Tico, Sheenly Gener as Lila, Anthony Falcon as Jelin, and Wenah Nagales as cover for Yemaya/Inay.
Why YEMAYA is one to watch
For Manila audiences, YEMAYA is one of the notable theater productions to watch in 2026. It brings together a Pulitzer-winning playwright, a Filipino translation grounded in local context, the return of an experienced director, and a cast that moves between seasoned theater presence and younger stage energy.
More importantly, it offers a story that unfolds with quiet intention, gathering meaning through image, movement, and emotion. In a season crowded with louder titles, YEMAYA feels like the kind of production that asks audiences to listen closely to the tide before it rises.
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FAQ: YEMAYA Manila 2026
What is YEMAYA by 9 Works Theatrical about?
YEMAYA is a Filipino translation of Quiara Alegría Hudes’ play Yemaya’s Belly. The story follows a young boy on an epic journey across land and sea, unfolding as a fantasy-laced coming-of-age story about perseverance, hope, and belonging.
Where will YEMAYA be staged in Manila?
YEMAYA will be staged at The Black Box at The Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati.
When is YEMAYA opening in Manila?
YEMAYA opens on June 13, 2026 and runs until July 5, 2026.
Who is in the YEMAYA cast?
The cast includes Bituin Escalante as Yemaya/Inay, Benedix Ramos and Tommy Alejandrino alternating as Jesus/Mulo, Sheena Belarmino and Ness Roque alternating as Maya, Herbie Go as Tico, Sheenly Gener as Lila, Anthony Falcon as Jelin, and Wenah Nagales as cover for Yemaya/Inay.
Who translated YEMAYA into Filipino?
The Filipino translation of YEMAYA is by Eljay Castro Deldoc.
Who is directing YEMAYA for 9 Works Theatrical?
YEMAYA is directed by Ed Lacson Jr., who also serves as set designer for the production.