One of August’s standout productions were twinbill production Peter and the Wolf & Little Red Riding Hood. A fusion of music, theatre, and dance, the twinbill was produced by Repertory Philippines and Ballet Philippines in a joint collaboration with the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

Staying true to the institutions’ mission of providing culturally enriching experiences, the twinbill also served as a production rooted in advocacy. 1,000 seats were made available, free of charge, for underserved communities. The support of paying patrons from the general public was a great deal as well in expanding future advocacy efforts.

Having had five performances from August 1 to 3, 2025 at The Theatre at Solaire, the twinbill proved effective in its mission. Not only was it a thrilling time at the theatre, but it was also successful in inspiring awe among children in the audience.

Allure of the performance arts in Peter and the Wolf

A symphonic piece written by Russian composer Sergei Profokiev and handled by Repertory Philippines, Peter and the Wolf is an empowering tale about friendship and wise choices. Various instruments in the orchestra also represented its characters. A flute represents the bird, a clarinet represents the cat, and so on.

Heard among the audience were the numerous ‘oohs’ from children. It was fascinating to witness, how the spectacle of it all sold the allure of the performance arts to children. No doubt that this production will be cited in the future as something that inspired at least one person into pursuing either theatre, ballet, or music. 

Karylle, the narrator for the August 3 matinee, was excellent at keeping the audience engaged with the story. Her narration of the material made the 40-minute performance feel like a bedtime story that comes to vivid life. Accompanying her narration was the lush performance of the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

PJ Rebullida’s kinetic choreography also mesmerized. As a result, the animated movements of its performers added to the bedtime story feel that the piece evoked. Jeremy Domingo’s direction showed off the piece’s ability to charm and inspire. Costumes from John Carlo Pagunaling were creative and rightly colorful. 

As the title character, Elian Santos was merely delightful. The wonder in his physicality and his adept handling of the piece’s dance sequences hint at a noteworthy career. The other performers were also just marvelous to watch. 

Exuberant dancing in Little Red Riding Hood

A ballet reimagining of Charles Perrault’s classic fairy tale and handled by Ballet Philippines, Little Red Riding Hood features the compositions of French conductor Camille Saint-Saens and Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. 

This reimagining was among the best works of August 2025. The slick and delicate movement of Ballet Philippines’ dancers was enthralling to watch, and it was also obvious with the audible reactions from the audience of this performance. 

The choreography of Mikhail Martynyuk was brilliantly performed by the company’s array of dancers. Their refined dancing points to the intense training they must have had, and testifies to the enduring strength they possess now. Music performed exuberantly by the Manila Symphony Orchestra also kept the 50-minute ballet immensely pleasant to watch. 

If this twinbill is any indicator, its branding of a ‘world-class performance’ is true and earned.

Further Information

Peter and the Wolf & Little Red Riding Hood ran from August 1 to 3, 2025 at The Theatre at Solaire.

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