Ikalabindalawang Gabi: Ateneo’s Twelfth Night
Viola is sent to woo a woman for the man she is falling for. The woman falls for Viola instead.
That romantic inconvenience is coming to the Gonzaga Fine Arts Theater at Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City. Tanghalang Ateneo opens its 48th season with Ikalabindalawang Gabi, National Artist Rolando S. Tinio’s Filipino translation of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by Miel Barrera Abong. The production has selected performances from November 6 to 15, 2026.
It is also the company’s trainee production, giving an emerging ensemble a comedy full of mistaken identities to untangle.
Viola’s impossible errand
Before anyone falls for the wrong person, Viola believes she has lost her twin brother, Sebastian, at sea. Alone in Illyria, she disguises herself as a man named Cesario and enters Duke Orsino’s service. The disguise gives her a way to get by in a foreign country. It also leaves her with a rather difficult love life.
Orsino wants Lady Olivia. Olivia wants Cesario. Viola, who is Cesario, wants Orsino. She has accidentally become her employer’s romantic rival.
Olivia’s household has its own troublemakers. Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Maria scheme against the stern Malvolio, while Sebastian’s unexpected arrival gives everyone another opportunity to be confidently mistaken.
Tanghalang Ateneo is approaching the comedy through the aftermath of loss. I’m curious about how Abong will hold on to Viola’s grief as the misunderstandings grow more ridiculous.
Tinio’s Filipino, spoken by a trainee ensemble
The company pairs Tinio’s Filipino translation with singing and dancing. Andy Reysio-Cruz handles sound design and composition, with vocal arrangement by Tini Quadra.
Sabel Lamadrid and Andie Manlusoc share the role of Viola, while Bea Villena and Zujin Ma play Olivia. Jeshua Cases is Duke Orsino, and Jio Japson plays Sebastian.
Sen Mendoza takes on Sir Toby, with Yeoj De Vera as Sir Andrew. Rona Layne Badilla and Aienne Manio share Maria, Juan Miguel Ponce plays Malvolio, and KD San Juan is Feste. The cast also includes Gian De Los Santos as Antonio, Asteri Florendo as Valentine and Officer 2, Vill Cortez as Curio, Officer 1 and the Priest, and Yuhan Padsoyan as the Sea Captain.
Abong works with assistant director Pearl Bornilla. Nica Mapeso handles production design, Albriz Bagsic costume design, and Aldrie Valmonte lighting design.
There are familiar names from the company’s earlier work, too. Gab Mactal, Keith Bernas and Meeka Sayaboc, who translated Tanghalang Ateneo’s Emilia earlier this year, are part of this production’s dramaturgy team alongside Erica Deliguer, Enrico Figueroa and Isa Geronimo.
Tickets for the November run
November 7 performance details remain unconfirmed. Please check with Tanghalang Ateneo before booking for that date.
The announced ticket rates are ₱500 for the general audience; ₱400 for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and Loyola Schools undergraduate students; and ₱350 for Loyola Schools scholars and PWD students.
Booking is through Tanghalang Ateneo’s official Ikalabindalawang Gabi ticket form. For group bookings, the company directs inquiries to tickets.tanghalangateneo@gmail.com, using the subject line “12G BULK BUY - Your Name or Organization.”