Philippine audiences will have the chance to witness elite British theater when the third season of CCP’s National Theatre Live showcases two award-winning productions on October 27 at 6:00 p.m. Presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in partnership with National Theatre Live and Ayala Malls Cinemas, these specially filmed live stage performances are adapted exclusively for the big screen.
Theater enthusiasts across the metro can choose their preferred experience, as the screenings roll out simultaneously across multiple prime locations. David Ireland’s riveting drama, The Fifth Step, makes its cinematic debut at the Ayala Malls Greenbelt 3 Cinema in Makati. Meanwhile, Peter Morgan’s majestic masterpiece, The Audience, will be showcased at Ayala Malls Vertis North in Quezon City, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, and Ayala Malls Solenad in Nuvali, Laguna.
Through these widespread regional screenings, CCP’s National Theatre Live successfully advances its core mission of breaking down geographical barriers and bringing world-class international theater directly to Filipino audiences.
Written by David Ireland, The Fifth Step follows James, an Alcoholics Anonymous veteran who becomes a sponsor to a newcomer named Luka. As they navigate the 12-step recovery system together, their initially straightforward friendship transforms into a complicated web of friction. Bound by shared trauma but divided by their core personal convictions, both men find their understanding of faith, mutual trust, and sobriety pushed to the absolute limit.
Masterfully blending pitch-black comedy with profound emotional stakes, the drama offers an uncompromising look at dependency and psychological isolation. As both protagonists confront their deepest personal ideologies, their unraveling dynamic casts a sharp spotlight on the fragile boundaries of professional mentorship. Ultimately, the narrative poses tough questions about the extreme psychological toll required to truly reconstruct a shattered life from the ground up.
Anchoring the production are two of the industry’s most celebrated talents: Olivier Award winner Jack Lowden and Emmy and BAFTA Award winner Martin Freeman. Before reaching global audiences on the silver screen through National Theatre Live, the powerhouse two-hander enjoyed a massively successful, completely sold-out run in London’s West End.
Concurrently, Peter Morgan’s masterful drama, The Audience, pulls back the curtain on the highly classified weekly audiences between Queen Elizabeth II and her rotating prime ministers. Spanning her historic multi-decade reign, these confidential conversations reveal the private human behind the crown. The production expertly navigates the heavy friction that exists when personal moral convictions collide directly with public duty and the shifting currents of global history.
Through these intense private dialogues, the production dissects the delicate constitutional dance between the British monarchy and the state. Morgan’s script offers a unique, deeply humanized perspective on the late Queen’s longevity, tracing how her quiet style of leadership adapted to decades of profound political upheaval and massive social transformation.
The production is anchored by legendary performances, earning immense critical acclaim for its fly-on-the-wall depiction of Buckingham Palace’s secret meetings. The original 2013 Laurence Olivier Awards honored the West End run with two major wins: Helen Mirren secured Best Actress for her definitive portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II, while Richard McCabe took home Best Actor in a Supporting Role as Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The powerhouse duo later brought their celebrated chemistry across the Atlantic, reprising their roles on Broadway and sweeping the 2015 Tony Awards for their performances.
Both titles are included in the official lineup for Season 3 of the CCP’s National Theatre Live program, which spans from September 2026 through August 2027. Organized in collaboration with National Theatre Live and Ayala Malls Cinemas, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between global stages and local audiences. The program presents award-winning British theater productions that have been filmed live in their original venues and digitally mastered for motion picture screens, enhancing cultural accessibility for theatergoers across the Philippines.
Don’t miss the chance to experience these masterclass stage performances on the grandest scale possible. You can catch the exclusive cinematic broadcast of The Fifth Step at Ayala Malls Greenbelt 3 in Makati, or experience the political drama of The Audience at Ayala Malls Vertis North, Ayala Malls Solenad (Nuvali), and Ayala Malls Manila Bay. Both highly anticipated productions will screen concurrently on October 27 at 6:00 p.m. through the CCP’s National Theatre Live program.
For ticket information and updates, follow the official social media accounts of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and visit the CCP website.
