The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) brings together two well-loved comedies for an epic finale to the second season of CCP’s National Theatre Live London: Fleabag and Present Laughter, shot live from the National Theatre in London and returning to the Philippine big screen this May.
Fleabag will be screened on May 27, 6:00 p.m., at the Ayala Malls Cinemas in Glorietta 4, Makati City, while Present Laughter takes on Vertis North in Quezon City and at the Central Bloc in Cebu, on the same date and time.
The rip-roaring one-woman show favorite
Written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and directed by Vicky Jones, Fleabag spotlights some sort of woman living her sort of life. Fleabag may seem oversexed, emotionally unfiltered and self-obsessed, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. With family and friendships under strain and a guinea pig café struggling to keep afloat, Fleabag suddenly finds herself with nothing to lose.
The hilarious, award-winning play that inspired the BBC’s hit TV series with the same title was filmed live on stage in London’s West End in 2019. It was first performed in 2013 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and won a Fringe First Award.
A modern reflection on fame, desire, and loneliness
Captured live from The Old Vic in London, Noël Coward’s 1939 comedy Present Laughter is given new life by award-winning theatre, opera, and film director Matthew Warchus. The title is drawn from a song in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night that inspires carpe diem (“present mirth hath present laughter”).
In this revelatory refresh of Coward’s classic comedy, actor Andrew Scott (from Vanya and Fleabag) returns to the stage as Garry Essendine whose colourful life is in danger of spiralling out of control as he prepares to embark on an overseas tour. Engulfed by an escalating identity crisis as his many and various relationships compete for his attention, Garry’s few remaining days at home are a chaotic whirlwind of love, sex, panic and soul-searching.
Best known for his highly polished comedies of manners, playwright Coward describes Present Laughter as “a very light comedy…written with the sensible object of providing me with a bravura part.”
Due to the outbreak of the Second World War interrupting rehearsals, Present Laughter was not produced until 1942. Coward himself starred as Garry during the original run and later reprised the role in the first British revival, and later, in the United States and Paris.
The commitment to deliver world-class stage plays to Filipino audiences
Culminating its second season, the CCP’s National Theatre Live London, in partnership with National Theatre Live London and Ayala Malls Cinemas, remains a groundbreaking initiative of the Cultural Center of the Philippines to showcase the best of international theater. By bringing renowned productions from the National Theatre in London directly to the Philippine big screen, CCP aims to foster a deeper appreciation for the arts, particularly the performing arts, and provide a dynamic and immersive theater experience to those who may not have the opportunity to see these performances live.
Through this program, CCP underscores its commitment to enriching the cultural landscape of the Philippines, offering a unique platform for global artistry while connecting it with local audiences.
First launched in June 2009, UK’s National Theatre Live has broadcast the best of British theatre live from the London stage to cinemas across the United Kingdom, around the world, and now in the Philippines. Digitally filmed in High-Definition quality, NTL films play in front of live theater audiences but optimized for the big screen and made accessible to theater fans across the globe.
Regular ticket prices are Php300 in Makati and Cebu, and Php350 in Vertis North, with special ticket price for students at Php150. Visit the venue’s ticket booth or book them online via www.sureseats.com to purchase tickets.
To get the latest updates on CCP’s National Theatre Live London and other events, follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) for more news.
