OUR HISTORY

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Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (Dulaang UP or DUP) is known for staging masterpieces of Philippine and world theatre to a Philippine audience. Founded in 1976 by National Artist Tony Mabesa, Dulaang UP supports the University’s academic theatre programs in the undergraduate and graduate levels, and works alongside the UP Playwrights’ Theatre (UPPT) and UP Dulaang Laboratoryo (Dulaang Lab). UP Playwrights’ Theatre was also established by Tony Mabesa in 1986 to showcase original Filipino plays, while UP Dulaang Laboratoryo focuses on student thesis productions and special projects, supervised by the theater faculty of the University of the Philippines.

DUP has been directed by notable figures including Tony Mabesa, Jonas Sebastian, Jorge Ledesma, Peter Kern, Anton Juan, Amiel Leonardia, Ogie Juliano, José Estrella, Dexter Santos, Issa Manalo-Lopez, Tess Jamias, Herbie Go, Tuxqs Rutaquio and Banaue Miclat-Janssen among others. 

Its first season in 1976-1977 featured works such as Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio’s Ang Bundok. The company has staged over 180 plays, including adaptations of Shakespeare, Brecht, Ibsen, Chekhov, Moliere, Wilde, Williams, Miller, Lorca and Strindberg, alongside original Filipino works by National Artists Nick Joaquin and Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero. Other homegrown writers whose works have been staged by DUP include Severino Montano, Rody Vera, Anton Juan, Amelia Lapena-Bonifacio, Rene Villanueva, Butch Dalisay, Floy Quintos, and Chris Millado. 

DUP has been recognized for its excellence by various institutions, including the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), and the Philippine LEAF Awards. 

Notable alumni and collaborators include Shamaine Buencamino, Eugene Domingo, Irma Adlawan, Dennis Marasigan, Candy Pangilinan, Mario O’Hara, Cedrick Juan, JC Santos, Chito Roño, Joel Lamangan, Pen Medina, Loren Legarda, Malou de Guzman, Ces Quesada, Romnick Sarmenta, and National Artists Ishmael Bernal, Rolando Tinio, and Amelia Lapena-Bonifacio. 

Much more veritable artists of the Philippine entertainment industry have performed in Dulaang UP’s performance spaces in the University which include the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theatre, Teatro Hermogenes Ylagan, and the IBG-KAL Theater. The artistic and administrative aspects of Dulaang UP are managed by full-time faculty members and staff of the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts.