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ANG IBANG LADY GAGA

September 20, 2026

A Personal Take on an Intimate Theater Experience

I was invited to watch the unique theatrical production of PUP Tanghalang Molave at PUP Sta. Mesa—Ang Ibang Lady Gaga, adapted from Ang Autobiografia ng Ibang Lady Gaga by Stefani J. Alvarez, and directed by Emma Esguerra and Mark Rosadeño.

As a theater enthusiast and a former active member of a university theater group during my college years, I gladly accepted the invitation. And I must say, I was impressed by the overall experience.

One of the first things that caught my attention was the way the production utilized the theater space.

Although the PUP theater is a large venue capable of accommodating thousands of spectators, the production did not occupy the entire stage. Instead, it created a smaller performance space within the larger theater, bringing the performers and the audience much closer together.

For me, this was where the concept of intimate theater became particularly evident.

The audience was no longer simply watching from a distance. It felt as though we had been brought directly into the space where the story and its characters existed. There were also elements reminiscent of black box theater, where the performance space can be reconfigured to create a more intimate, flexible, and experimental theatrical experience.

There were moments that brought back memories of some of the performances I used to watch at the Batute Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)—particularly the more experimental movements, the use of the body, monologues, tableaux, and scenes that did not rely solely on traditional blocking.

In this production, storytelling was not limited to dialogue. Movement, space, silence, and the physical presence of the actors also became important tools in building the narrative.

At the heart of the story is an OFW working in Saudi Arabia—a life filled with happiness, longing, bitterness, struggles, and experiences that cannot easily be reduced to a single emotion.

This is where Ang Ibang Lady Gaga becomes more than entertainment.

Behind the performances is a deeper exploration of the experience of a Filipino working abroad. It is an experience that may be deeply personal for some, familiar to many, and perhaps not fully understood by others.

The production’s approach to staging itself became part of the experience.

For a university theater production, I saw the courage to experiment, the willingness to move beyond conventional theatrical presentation, and the use of theater not only as a space for storytelling, but also as a space for feeling and reflection.

If the production gets a rerun, I would recommend watching it—particularly for theater enthusiasts, those interested in experimental theater, and anyone who wants to experience a play that is not merely watched from a distance, but feels as though it is being brought closer to the audience.

Personal Rating

If five stars is the highest rating, I would give Ang Ibang Lady Gaga:

3½ / 5 stars

A production with its own voice, a willingness to experiment with space and movement, and, above all, a story with depth and an emotional connection to the Filipino experience.