The Stage is Set for Resistance: PETA Unveils "Control + Shift: StudioLab 2026

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

For decades, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) has served as the heartbeat of People’s Theater, transforming the stage into a mirror for the Filipino soul. This April, that pulse quickens. From April 10 to 19, 2026, the PETA Studio Theater becomes a site of radical reimagining with the return of Control + Shift: Changing Narratives StudioLab.

Building on the momentum of its 2024 debut and 2025 festival, this year’s StudioLab is a "Brave Exploration on Narrative Change". It is a creative sanctuary where artists and community partners confront the "tough questions of our time," crafting stories that hold space for healing while envisioning more humane, democratic futures.

The 2026 showcase is divided into two powerhouse sets, each exploring the thin line between survival and systemic change.

Set A: When Power Falls into our Hands

This set dissects the gravity of choice in the face of normalized corruption and violence. When the system demands compliance, who among us will dare to interrupt it? 

CLEANERS: Written by Jhudiel Clare Sosa and directed by Julio Garcia, this play follows senior high students who realize their graduation requires more than just tidying classrooms. It is a tense exploration of what happens when the weight of truth lands in young hands.

MONIT-OH! MONIT-AH! (Restaging): Playwright Herlyn Alegre and director Norbs Portales return with a sharp forum theatre piece. Through Jaylord, a rookie waiter, audiences witness how a simple Christmas gift exchange can unmask the rot of the palakasan system.

Set B: When Care Becomes Survival

In landscapes scarred by war and disaster, care is no longer a luxury—it is an act of collective endurance and faith.

BAGA NG GUMUGUHONG LANGIT: Under the direction of Ian Segarra and written by Anj Heruela, this haunting work depicts orphaned children fighting for survival amidst the chaos of war, pleading for care from a world that has largely forgotten them.

AT NAGKATAWANG-TAO ANG VERBO (Restaging): Presented by Tanghalang Bagong Sibol, this play by Mikaela Regis and director Anthony Cruz breathes life into religious icons. In an urban fishing community along Ilog Tullahan, biblical imagery becomes a reflection of the daily struggle for dignity and hope.

Plan Your Visit: Show Dates and Tickets

Tickets are available now for Php 700 per set via Ticket2Me or at bit.ly/CS2026Tickets.

Set Dates & Times

Set A

April 10 (2 PM & 7 PM), April 12 (2 PM), April 18 (7 PM), April 19 (7 PM) 

Set B

April 11 (2 PM & 7 PM), April 12 (7 PM), April 18 (2 PM), April 19 (2 PM) 

Location: PETA Studio Theater, Quezon City, Philippines.

Be part of the shift. Follow @petatheater on social media for more updates as PETA continues to reclaim the Filipino narrative, one story at a time.

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