British-Filipino actor Martin Sarreal (Netflix’s Bridgerton, Royal National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe)

Makes REP Stage Debut

Award-winning Filipino Actor Brian Sy (Othello) and British Actor Freddy Sawyer (Bristol Old Vic, Apple TV’s Trying) Round Out International CastBridge Project 2025 Season Heightens Conservatoire-style Training Courses with Emphasis on Classical Work

Repertory Philippines (“REP”) announces the full cast and creative team for its 88th season production of Yasmina Reza’s Olivier and Tony Award winning comedy, ART. Christopher Hampton translated the play, and Victor Lirio directs the production. Preview performances will run June 11 and 12 at 8PM, with opening night on Friday, June 13 at 7:30PM. Regular shows will take place Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, plus matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 3PM through June 29, 2025. REP will host all performances at its new Eastwood Theatre in Quezon City. For details, visit repertoryphilippines.ph.

REP’s production of ART unites creatives from New York, London, and Manila, bringing global perspectives to the celebrated comedy. Moreover, the international cast includes London-based Filipino British actor Martin Sarreal, who performed in Season 3 of Netflix’s hit series Bridgerton. Manila actor Brian Sy joins the cast; he starred in Tiny Beautiful Things and currently plays Cassio in Othello. British actor Freddy Sawyer, a Bristol Old Vic graduate, appears in the production after his role in Apple TV’s Trying series.

Directed by Victor Lirio, ART’s creative and production teams include Miguel Urbino (scenic and costume design), Miriam Crowe (lighting design), Fabian Obispo (original music and sound design), Maisie Carter (fight director), Zoe Littleton (voice coach), Uriel Villar (assistant director), Julia Pacificador (associate scenic designer), Patricia Gregorio (production manager), and Jayvee Carreon (production stage manager).

Written by French playwright Yasmina Reza and translated by British playwright Christopher Hampton, the comedy raises questions about art and friendship and concerns three long-time friends—Serge (Sarreal), Marc (Sawyer), and Yvan (Sy). Serge, indulging his penchant for modern art, buys a large, expensive, completely white painting. Marc is horrified, and their relationship suffers considerable strain as a result of their differing opinions about what constitutes “art.” Yvan, caught in the middle of the conflict, tries to please and mollify both of them.

What critics wrote:

 “Anyone looking for a play that is funny, sophisticated, stylish, stimulating and moving should go to ‘ART.’” — The Independent (UK)

“… wildly funny, naughtily provocative …” — New York Post

“Reza and Hampton have an acute ear for the idiocies, trivia and petty assaults that pepper the conversation between friends … The real pleasures come from Reza’s creation of three beautifully defined, original characters …” — Mail on Sunday (London)

Acclaimed Director Victor Lirio Brings International Experience Back to REP

Lirio directed REP’s critically acclaimed production of Harold Pinter’s Betrayal last season, recipient of several Gawad Buhay citations including Outstanding Production and Direction; the London premiere of Adam Rapp’s Pulitzer Prize nominated Red Light Winter; and in Bristol, UK, the double bill production of Edward Allan Baker’s North of Providence and Dolores, and Richard Greenberg’s Three Days of Rain. In New York, he directed Cassandra Medley’s award-winning Noon Day Sun (starring Emmy Award winner Ron Cephas Jones, Time Out New York Critic’s Choice); Warren Bodow’s Race Music (New York Times Critic’s Pick); and Medley’s plays, Coming Up for Air (starring Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins) and Cell (starring Tony Award nominee Condola Rashad). Trained at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art as a classical actor with a Master’s degree in Drama Directing from the Bristol Old Vic, Victor was Resident Director on Dr Semmelweis by Stephen Brown at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London’s West End starring Oscar winner Mark Rylance.

From Bridgerton to REP: Martin Sarreal Takes the Stage

British-Filipino actor Martin Sarreal appeared in the world premiere of the Elton John and Jake Shears musical, Tammy Faye, at the Almeida Theatre in London. Since graduating from Drama Centre London, he has gone on to star in numerous productions across stage, TV and film. Theatre credits include the Evening Standard Award winning and Olivier nominated London production of Here Lies Love (Royal National Theatre), Forty Years On (Chichester Festival Theatre), Read Not Dead: The Duke of Milan (Shakespeare’s Globe), Corrina Corrina (Headlong Theatre/Everyman Liverpool). Martin can currently be seen as Lord Barnell in Season 3 of Bridgerton on Netflix.

Brian Sy Adds Depth to REP’s ART with Acclaimed Theater Background

Award-winning Manila-based actor Brian Sy is the recipient of the Gawad Buhay Award for his portrayal of Aufidius in Tanghalang Pilipino’s Coriolano, for which he also garnered an Aliw Award nomination for Best Featured Actor. He recently appeared in Nia Vardalos’ adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s Tiny Beautiful Things (The Sandbox Collective, 2024), and as Maximo in Pat Valera’s Mula sa Buwan (Barefoot Theatre Collaborative, 2024). His recent notable works for the stage include: M in Duncan Mcmillan’s Lungs, Kooriyama Tatsuya in Suzue Toshiro’s If He Doesn’t See Your Face, Ronildo ‘Ka Roy’ Ibanag in Guelan Luarca’s theatrical adaptation of Lualhati Bautista’s novel entitled Desaparesidos, Ferdinand in PETA’s adaptation of The Tempest Reimagined, Edmund in both the English and Filipino versions of Dulaang UP’s King Lear/Haring Lear (dir. by Tony Mabesa, 2015). Brian has performed in international theatre festivals in Spain, Taiwan, Malaysia, Belarus, Vietnam, and China. He’s currently appearing in C.A.S.T.’s 2025 run of Othello as Michael Cassio.

Freddy Sawyer Reunites with Director Victor Lirio for REP’s ART

Freddy is a London based actor and writer, who trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School after reading Education with Drama & English at the University of Cambridge. Freddy is thrilled to be working with Victor again, having played the role of Davis in his production of Red Light Winter (by Adam Rapp) at London’s Turbine Theatre in 2021. UK television credits include Life After Life (BBC), Alice & Jack (Channel 4) and Trying (Apple TV). UK/USA screen credits include the role of Derek in the feature film Fair Play (dir. Chloe Domont), which screened at Sundance Film Festival 2023 (currently streaming on Netflix). Freddy’s short film Twenty (co-authored with director Jason Hogan) was featured in numerous international film festivals and received over fourteen awards.

Bridge Project 2025 Season will focus on classical work with week-long workshops on Shakespeare Rhetoric, Voice & Alexander Technique, Movement and Stage Combat. It will also offer production arts workshops on scenic design and lighting for theatre performance with visiting tutors from New York and the UK in partnership with Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Mindy Perez-Rubio, REP’s President & CEO said: “In partnership with Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (“BOVTS”), we are thrilled to be expanding our Bridge Project sessions this year with special focus on stagecraft and classical work. In addition to Victor Lirio’s Shakespeare Rhetoric course, we are bringing additional tutors from BOVTS to teach Voice, Movement & Stage Combat.

“We are planning for a major Shakespeare production next year and investing in our local artists here in Manila by providing them with the artistic support, training, and resources. We are grateful for the leadership of REP’s Board of Trustees, support from Fiona Francombe at BOVTS, and the generosity of our donors and sponsors whose support for the Bridge Project is crucial,” Rubio added.

There are limited spots for the Bridge Project sessions this year. For more information on how to register, visit www.repertoryphilippines.ph.

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